This transcription of a Marcello concerto showcases Bach's skillful reduction of orchestral textures into solo keyboard form. It is characterized by its linear clarity and standard Baroque thematic development.
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.
Achieving evenness in the sixteenth-note passages while keeping the left-hand accompaniment light and supportive is essential.
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 minor (BWV 985) 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 minor (BWV 985) lasts about 4 minutes.
Concerto in G minor (BWV 985) 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, Concerto in G minor by Johann Sebastian Bach, Concerto in C major by Johann Sebastian Bach — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.