Bach Inventions -- Out of the Box (?)

[m19834]

Okay, I have a question.  What do you think about doing something like splitting a 2 part invention between voice and a wind instrument (bassoon) ?  Is this something the Classical world looks down upon and can only be pulled off in concerts in hippie towns ?  What if it were executed *really* well ?  Take invention number 8, for example.  If I were to sing that soprano line I would have to be in *excellent* vocal shape (which I could totally pull off  ) with the jumps and the motion and the range (high C and several high A's and such in the middle of jumps) ... for voice, it's pretty coloratura-oriented stuff ... and going all the way down to the F below middle C, too (which I could also totally do  ) -- not just *anybody* could seriously pull that off so that would have to mean *something* to somebody who knows the business.  I mean, if I really just nailed it (and if our ensemble were really tight) that would be pretty great, right ?

I'm just not sure how that would be viewed by the Classics .  Thanks for your thoughts !

[Bob]

Someone already put it in the box.

Except that's three part.

Aw... Someone took down the two part invention.  (Bob thinks JS must be issuing takedown notices from the grave... or the dust.)

ML



This is "related" it says.  

&feature=related

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I feel compelled to buy a phone or sign up for something now.


Here's a jazz version of one.

[term]

Why are you so concerned about that? If it sounds good, do it.

[m19834]

I am not *so* concerned about it, however, I would like to have more than one concert, appeal to more than one type of audience, and I would like to get paid  .  

Thanks, Bob, for the links !

[thalbergmad]

I would like to get paid  .  

OK, I give you $50 not to do it.

Thal

[m19834]

OK, I give you $50 not to do it.

Thal

haha ... I don't believe you, first of all.  And, well, I won't bother with a second of all .

[pianowolfi]

Okay, I have a question.  What do you think about doing something like splitting a 2 part invention between voice and a wind instrument (bassoon) ?

Cool idea

Bach himself wrote in the foreword of the inventions (if I remember correctly) that it's about cantabile... "Eine cantable Art im Spielen zu erlangen"

[thalbergmad]

The results of karli's suggestion could actually sound rather nice and opens up a world of millions of different possible combinations.

No doubt that Bach would sound excellent on the banjo with someone playing a hosepipe for the other part, or perhaps even bells and double bass.

If you want to do voice, let me know which invention you are interested and I will work on some appropriate lyrics.

Thal

[m19834]

Cool idea

Bach himself wrote in the foreword of the inventions (if I remember correctly) that it's about cantabile... "Eine cantable Art im Spielen zu erlangen"

 

I'm glad you like the idea.  My secret feeling is that even if there are doubters in the world, that if it's really done right, the doubters can become convinced, actually.  I'm pretty excited as it's the most motivated I've ever felt to actually get in shape vocally, and the most fulfilling music I've ever thought about singing -- it's like the concept fits me to a 'T' !  

I'm thinking especially about numbers 5 and 8 right now (without words).  I think they both lend themselves nicely to singing (and bassoon).  

Thaly, I guess part of me wonders why more people don't do it though ... the links that Bob posted were a surprise to me, I hadn't even thought to do a search (I know, probably stupid of me).  However, I have actually only listened to one so far (the first one).  It's pretty cool, but I have complaints about the performance itself -- I want it to be pulled off like there's no tomorrow.

[Bob]

Voice and bassoon though?  Maybe.  I did notice on of the oboes on the oboe/bassoon jazz thread sounded like a voice.

Balance would probably be an issue.  And possibly staying strictly together in time, being voice and bassoon.

Then you always have to have both people around. 

It just sounds like a slightly odd combination.  I'm sure people have done duets of the inventions for each instrument.  I did a few of those in college. 

Try it.  Find out.  Post a recording. 

Actually the more I'm thinking about it, the more it sounds "blendable."  Still a balance problem.  A bassoon would be a pain in the butt to mic too to record it, if you mic'd up close.  I was thinking having each on a separate track would make it easier to control volume. 

I just keep thinking it would be so easy for the voice to drown out the bassoon.  Maybe the bassoon could be mic'd up.  Or use some kind of MIDI bassoon.  Hum the voice part? 

Actually... You could write it out yourself, but there are probably already basoon arrangements out there.  Or bassoon and oboe.  And oboe in C already.  The bassoon thinking would already be worked out.  Of course the invention is free for keyboad. 

[Bob]

There's one already.

ob and bsn

[Bob]

I actually found a couple.

https://www.music-scores.com/midi.php?sheetmusic=Caccini_Ave_Maria_SopFg
They use an mm for the voice.  Awesome MIDI sounds to really illustrate how it actually sounds.

And a broken link....


https://www.k-state.edu/music/bassoon/resources/sheetmusic.htm
Couple on here.


I found bassoon with other instruments -- guitar, vibraphone, flue, clarinet.  "Voice" makes it tricky to search.

Lots of oboe bassoon duets though.  It would be easy to find that and try it out.

[timothy42b]

I guess part of me wonders why more people don't do it though

Probably because the Inventions aren't intended as performance material but as study material.

They are wonderful to play but perhaps not that listenable? 

Like the unaccompanied Bach cello suites.  You can find them recorded by every known instrument, but finding an audience that enjoyed them is problematical. 

But go and try it anyway, if you can make it interesting perhaps you will start a new trend.