Air from the Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068

Johann Sebastian Bach's Air from the D Major Suite, BWV 1068, in both its original and arranged forms, has captivated audiences for centuries. Its simplicity, beauty, and emotional depth have made it a timeless classic, often used in various contexts, from classical music concerts to film soundtracks. This edition is inspired and edited after mid-century romanticized recordings. While the mid-century tradition may be considered counterculture in terms of performance practice these days, we often ignore the beauty and musical merit of these amazing mid-century performances, now historic. The duration of this work is approximately 4 minutes. Studying this piece also makes for an interesting classroom discussion on performance practice and how musicians make musical choices both individually and as an ensemble. It would be a valuable exercise for students to compare and contrast a mid-century recording by Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra with a modern recording by the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra.