Canon in G major

Johann Sebastian BachBWV 1077

BaroqueSpecialistinventionG majorModerato4/4~1 min
H3
Henle (estimated)
RCM 5ABRSM 4

About this piece

Closely related to BWV 1076, this canon displays Bach's immense facility with imitative structures. Its brevity belies the depth of its harmonic and contrapuntal design.

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Teacher notes

The challenge lies in articulation clarity across the imitative entries.

Technical focus

counterpointarticulationvoicing

Mood

intellectualprecise

Your status

Not in your repertoire

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Canon in G major (BWV 1077) by Johann Sebastian Bach?

Canon in G major (BWV 1077) is rated Henle level 3 of 9 — late beginner repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 4–5. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 5.

What level do I need to play Canon in G major?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 3 — meaning you can already play level 2–3 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 Canon in G major?

A typical performance of Canon in G major (BWV 1077) lasts about 1 minute.

Where can I get free sheet music for Canon in G major?

Canon in G major (BWV 1077) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.