Recalling Bach's Inventions, Sinfonias, and The Well-Tempered Clavier provides clues as to the character of B minor (h-moll) in his writing. You will find that even in a minor key, it is dynamic, not heavy, yet somewhat solemn, and does not possess a strong character like other keys.

This Courante, however, also carries an emotional aspect, and a certain degree of sadness can be felt through its chromatic progressions.

The performer should perceive the non-harmonic tones written by Bach, emphasize them slightly, and pay attention to where these non-harmonic tones resolve to harmonic tones. For example, in measure 1, beat 3, the D# in the right hand is a non-harmonic tone, which resolves to E in measure 2, beat 1, also in the right hand. Viewed from the D on the off-beat of beat 2 in measure 1, it ascends chromatically D-D#-E, resolving to E in measure 2. Be careful not to accent the E.

Similarly, the A# in measure 2, beat 3, is the leading tone of B minor, so the first beat of measure 3 (though not actually connected to the tonic) should be played p.

Regarding tempo, since this is a Courante in 3/2 time, it should be understood as a French-style Courante, and therefore the tempo is by no means fast.