This piece is from my early days learning about music history and exploring music by Bach, Robert de Visée, and other Baroque composers.

Chamber music for solo instruments in the Baroque period often took the form of a suite of movements, each of which had features characteristic of a recognized dance form. This allowed for a pleasing variety of tempos and textures. This suite form was originally intended for people to dance to, but over time as composers brought more and more complexity to the individual pieces, the dancing became less frequent and the suites became played more often just for the pleasure of listening.

Sarabandes have often been my favorite movements in studying these suites. They are slow, and they often use minor keys or have sad affects even when their overall suite is mostly in a major key. The slow tempo provides a chance to really sit with the harmonies and the moments of dissonance. And it also makes them somewhat easier for players to realize, which can be a welcome respite from fast and complex counterpoint!