Many of Bach's compound meter pieces are full of vitality. This Gigue also has a very optimistic mood. Play it strongly, joyfully, and technically.

Performance Hints

A hint for performance lies in the application of dynamics. In this Gigue, there are many passages where the same material is repeated twice. For example, measures 21-22, the right hand in measures 33-34, and the right hand in measures 49-51, etc. Even if the exact same material is not repeated twice, sections with continuous identical patterns appear. For instance, from the third beat of measure 8 to the third beat of measure 9, one gets the impression that the same pattern continues.

In these patterns, always apply dynamic contrast. For example, playing measure 21 forte and measure 22 piano – a sudden dynamic shift from forte to piano – will make the piece even more enjoyable and effective. To use an ensemble analogy, it's like transitioning from a large instrumentation to a smaller one.

On the other hand, there are also phrases where you do not want to lose direction. For example, measures 23-24. Although the phrase descends, do not make it a diminuendo; instead, it would be good to crescendo towards the final note.