Johann Sebastian Bach: 6 English Suites (Keyboard)

Bach composed these suites early in life, before any of the other suite sets, such as the French suites. They portray a young Bach bursting with energy, dexterity and ideas, and rapt enthusiasm for the newest styles of the day - the Italian concertos of Vivaldi, and the French harpsichord suites of D'Anglebert, Daquin and Couperin. Melding these powerful forms with the already Italianate German fantasy or toccata, Bach produced some of the world's first true virtuoso keyboard masterpieces.