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Johann Sebastian Bach: Inventions
In the original title to these works, the composer called them “A faithful guide, whereby admirers of the harpsichord are shown a plain method of learning not only to play clean in two Parts, but likewise in further Progress to manage three obbligato Parts well and correctly, and at the same time not merely how to get good Inventions, but also how to develop the same well; but above all, to obtain a cantabile style of playing, and together with this to get a strong foretaste of composition."
Bach used them in his teaching as a first step on the way to playing more complex contrapuntal works, such as the Well-Tempered Clavier.
Both the two-part Inventions and the three-part Sinfonias are arranged in order of ascending key, each group covering fifteen major and minor keys.
as i read through the forums i saw that a lot of people recommend that people play the 2 part inventions, but many dont mention the 3 part inventions. are the 3 parts not as important? y is it that the 2 part inventions are mentioned so much more?
Bach inventions September 19, 2009, 06:26:09 PM by chopinatic
Can anyone tell me whats the hardest and easiest Bach 2 part inventions?
Hello, I'm learning the 1st invention by Bach at the moment. It's still quite difficult for me as I've been learning piano for a bit over a month now but I'm managing.. going 1 hand then 1 page at a time.
If it gets easier as I go, as I imagine it will, to pick up the next invention, is there still a fair benefit improvement-wise to learning all 15 inventions? Or should I just pick out a handful and learn them?
It's not as if I don't like all the inventions.. but I imagine even if I was going at a good pace they would probably take 6+months at least to learn in entirety (The 1st one is shaping up to be a month or so on its own at this rate) and I'd like to be learning some other music as well.
