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Among the many extraordinary pieces in Bach’s musical universe, the four Orchestral Suites BWV 1066-1069 strike me as particularly fitting for an introduction: each begins with a longer - somewhat dominant - introductory movement, an Overture (which is why the suites are sometimes collectively referred to as Overtures), followed by delightfully brief dance movements; Suites 1 and 2 feature 6 dances each, while Suites 3 and 4 have 4 each; considering some movements consist of two dances, there are actually not just 20 but 28 dances - or precisely 27, as the Air, the second movement of Suite 3, isn’t a dance, yet it’s arguably the most well-known piece from all four suites.
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For a complete performance, I’ll point you to a brand-new recording, on YouTube: J. S. Bach - Ouvertures-Suites BWV 1066 - 1069 - Ensemble Masques, O. Fortin, link, total duration 1:17:30, released by Alpha Classics on 03.06.2022 and uploaded to YouTube on 28.06.2022, currently with 63,289 views. While I find the overall performance somewhat overly articulated and slightly fast-paced, I can’t resist the allure of precision and vitality, showcasing the high level of competence achieved in the realm of Early Music.
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The introduction lists the individual tracks, with timestamps for each suite and the durations of individual movements: 0:00:00 Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C Major, BWV 1066: I. Overture 05:56, II. Courante 02:26, III. Gavottes I & II 02:54, IV. Forlane 01:17, V. Menuets I & II 02:59, VI. Bourrées I & II 02:27, VII. Passepieds I & II 02:49; 0:20:50 Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor, BWV 1067: I. Overture 06:52, II. Rondeau 01:39, III. Sarabande 02:54, IV. Bourrées I & II 01:45, V. Polonaise & Double 03:45, VI. Menuett 01:05, VII. Badinerie 01:38; 0:40:31; Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068: I. Overture 06:40, II. Air 03:58, III. Gavottes I & II 03:23, IV. Bourrée 01:03, V. Gigue 02:47. Unfortunately, the (audibly present) 4th Suite is missing from the list; therefore, I’ve included its beginning and movement durations separately: 58:25 Orchestral Suite No. 4 In D Major, BWV 1069: I. Overture 7:47, II. Bourrées I & II 2:22, III. Gavotte 1:56, IV. Menuets I & II 4:29, V. Réjouissance 2:29.
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It may take some time to filter out special favorites (not only here) from the plethora of pieces, which you might consider adding to a shortlist. Especially if, like me, you find the listed recording on YouTube - particularly in the final third - annoying due to frequent ads interrupting the music, you can opt for other recordings on YouTube: (FULL) Bach - Orchestral Suites No.1 to No.4 - Consort Of London - Robert Haydon Clark, link, total duration 1:18:38, a quite agreeable, conventional recording, uploaded in 2015 from a 1992 Collins Classics CD, also with complete timestamps for individual movements in the introduction. For a more local, East German (and musically spirited) flavor, you might also enjoy the recording with the Virtuosi Saxoniae under Ludwig Güttler, on YouTube: J.S. Bach: Orchestral Suites No.1 - No.4, link, total duration 1:13:02, a 2017 reissue of a 2014 Brillant Classics CD, also with a detailed movement list with timestamps. As a contrast to these more recent recordings, the Klemperer recording serves as an excellent choice, on YouTube under: J.S.Bach Complete Orchestral-Suites [O.Klemperer New-Philharmonia-O] (1969), link, total duration 1:45:27, the studio recording from 1969 was likely first published as a double LP by EMI / His Master’s Voice in 1971 and uploaded to YouTube in 2017 - the recording, with its full symphony orchestra sound, comes across as comparatively incredibly solemn and soft (not at all in line with current musical interpretation), more suited for meditation than dancing, but that can indeed have its own special charm; in this case, only the timestamps for the beginning of each suite are provided in the introduction, which is sufficient, as you should take your time with this recording, listening to a whole suite to truly unwind. Lastly, I’d like to mention the recording with Karl Richter, which has been with me (especially Suites 2 and 3) for over 50 years, on YouTube: J.S.Bach Complete Orchestral-Suites [K.Richter Münich-Bach-O] (1961), link, total duration 1:34:02, an Archiv production with 2 LPs from 1961, uploaded to YouTube in 2017, currently with 10,781 views - with its broad orchestral sound (though not as stretched out as Klemperer’s), it’s probably the best available recording in the traditional style. I highly recommend this recording: precise, transparent, and immensely conducive to inner engagement and participation. Once again, only the timestamps for the beginning of each suite are provided in the introduction for direct navigation.