イギリス組曲が短調作品が多く、演奏も技術が求められ、峻厳な曲想であるのと好一対をなしている。

この時期先妻を亡くし、15歳下のアンナ・マグダレーナ・ヴィルケと再婚している。創作の意欲も衰えがなく、本作をはじめ多くの鍵盤楽器曲が残されている。

==== BWV812 ====
ニ短調。
# アルマンド Allemande
# クーラント Courante
# サラバンド Sarabande
# メヌエットI Menuet I
# メヌエットII Menuet II
# ジーグ Gigue

==== BWV813 ====
ハ短調。
# アルマンド / Allemande
# クーラント / Courante
# サラバンド / Sarabande
# エール / Air
# メヌエット / Menuet
# ジーグ / Gigue

==== BWV814 ====
ロ短調。
# アルマンド Allemande
# クーラント Courante
# サラバンド Sarabande
# メヌエット - トリオ Menuet - Trio
# アングレーズ Anglaise
# ジーグ Gigue

==== BWV815 ====
変ホ長調。
# アルマンド Allemande
# クーラント Courante
# サラバンド Sarabande
# ガヴォット Gavotte
# エール Air
# ジーグ Gigue

The '''''French Suites''''', clavier (English Suites'' (whose title is likewise a later appellation). The name was popularised by Bach's biographer Johann Nikolaus Forkel, who wrote in his 1802 biography of Bach, "One usually calls them French Suites because they are written in the French manner."<ref>Bach. ''The French Suites: Embellished version''. Barenreiter Urtext</ref> This claim, however, is inaccurate: like Bach's other suites, they follow a largely Italian convention.<ref>Christophe Rousset, notes to the recording of the ''French Suites'', Ambroisie AMB9942</ref>. 

There is no surviving "definitive" manuscript of these suites, and ornamentation varies both in type and in degree across manuscripts.<ref>Bach. ''The French Suites: Embellished version''. Barenreiter Urtext</ref> 

Two additional suites, one in A minor (BWV 818), the other in E-flat Major (BWV 819), are linked to the familiar six in some manuscripts. The ''Overture in the French style'', BWV 831, which Bach published as the second part of Clavier-Übung, is a suite in the French style but not connected to the ''French suites''.<ref>Although see the discussion of French influences in Hans-Joachim Schulze, ''The French Influence in Bach's Instrumental Music'', <u>Early Music</u>, 13:2, 1985 (''J. S. Bach Tercentenary Issue'', 180-184.</ref>

==The French suites==
 
===Suite No. 1 in D minor, BWV 812===

#Allemande
#Courante
#Sarabande
#Menuet I/II
#Gigue

Although Suites 1-4 are typically dated to 1722, it is possible that this suite was written even somewhat earlier <ref>Bach. ''The French Suites: Embellished version''. Barenreiter Urtext</ref>

===Suite No. 2 in C minor, BWV 813===

#Allemande
#Courante
#Sarabande
#Air
#Menuet 
#Menuet - Trio (in BWV 813a)
#Gigue 

===Suite No. 3 in B minor, BWV 814===

#Allemande
#Courante
#Sarabande
#Menuet
#Trio
#Anglaise -- Bach originally titled this movement Gavotte (a dance type very similar to the Angloise). He may have changed the name because this movement lacks the gavotte's characteristic two quarter-note upbeat. <ref>Bach. ''The French Suites: Embellished version''. Barenreiter Urtext</ref>
#Gigue