Called 'Ouvertüren' in Germany, because they began with a large-scale overture à la française, Bach's Suites for orchestra offer a unique synthesis of the French and the Italian styles. The D major Suite, BWV 1068, may have been written in Cöthen around 1718. It includes the well-known Air, undoubtedly one of Bach's most beautiful creations; its expressively lamenting cantabile melody over a stepwise striding bass can still touch us today.