Another of Bach's transcriptions based on Duke Johann Ernst of Saxe-Weimar, demonstrating the intersection of Italian melodic style and German rigor. It is distinctive for its vibrant, sequential passage work.
At Henle 5 this is a late-intermediate piece — technically substantial, with musical demands to match. The main demands: independent voices that must each sing on their own line; ornaments that need to sound effortless, not squeezed in; and fine finger independence within the hand.
Beyond that, expect continuous sixteenth-note figuration that must ripple, not chatter, and precise articulation — the difference between crisp and blurred is the piece.
The challenge lies in balancing the melodic voices against the steady, accompaniment-like sixteenth notes.
Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.
A level or two down with the same spirit — ideal if this piece is still out of reach.
Where this piece's skills lead: slightly harder works making similar technical demands.
Lesser-known works by the same hand, at a comparable level.
Concerto in G major (BWV 986) is rated Henle level 5 of 9 — late intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 6–7. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 8.
You should be comfortable at Henle level 5 — meaning you can already play level 4–5 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.
A typical performance of Concerto in G major (BWV 986) lasts about 7 minutes.
Concerto in G major (BWV 986) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.
Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Concerto in G major by Johann Sebastian Bach, Partita No. 1 in B-flat major by Johann Sebastian Bach, Concerto in G minor by Johann Sebastian Bach — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.