Brandenburg Concerto No.2

Johann Sebastian BachBWV 1047

BaroqueFamoussuiteF majorAllegro2/2~12 min
H8
Henle (estimated)
RCM 10ABRSM 8

About this piece

The second Brandenburg Concerto is celebrated for its virtuosic demands and high-lying trumpet part, which is notoriously difficult to translate to the keyboard. It represents the pinnacle of Bach's contrapuntal mastery in a secular concerto setting.

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Teacher notes

The performer must navigate rapid, tight-knit imitation while maintaining a precise and light touch.

Technical focus

counterpointspeed-agilityarticulationfinger-independencevoicing

Mood

energeticbrilliantprecise

Your status

Not in your repertoire

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (BWV 1047) by Johann Sebastian Bach?

Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (BWV 1047) is rated Henle level 8 of 9 — concert repertoire, roughly diploma level. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 10.

What level do I need to play Brandenburg Concerto No.2?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 8 — meaning you can already play level 7–8 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.

How long is Brandenburg Concerto No.2?

A typical performance of Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (BWV 1047) lasts about 12 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Brandenburg Concerto No.2?

Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (BWV 1047) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.