Abstract
The German composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) composed sixteen French overtures during his lifetime. These are found in his orchestral music, cantatas and works for solo instrument. Although most of Bach’s music has undergone extensive study, being one of the main subjects of musicology for the past two hundred years, the French overtures have, nevertheless, been scantily touched upon. Likewise, the French overture as a musical form, has also received a limited interest by scholars, who rarely delve into more extensive discussions on its form and application, at the expense of their qualities for performance. In doing so, aspects of the French overture deserving more in-depth study have been disregarded, as there are still many areas that need to be addressed. This present study of the French overtures of Bach intends to offer an analysis of these works, from the viewpoints of structure and style, covering different areas of investigation by chartering a course from the general to the more specific.