Bach's first Invention

[graceandbeauty]

Hello I am about to begin working on Bach's Invention no. 1. I am currently listening to the piece to get a better handle on it when I start. For me it just helps me learn the piece faster. Anyway I am divided as to how fast the piece is supposed to be played. I hear some play it fast some play it at a moderate speed and some play it fairly slowly. Could you tell me how fast it was meant to be played so I can listen on the metronome. I did hear the great Glenn Gould and he played it slowly. I myself prefer the moderate speed but i do want to know the way it is supposed to be played... Thanks allot bye!

[andreslr6]

Well, it doesn't have a tempo indication for a reason . I'm not a baroque expert, but I was taught that tempo is part of the interpretation too, they had some implicit codes that they would later interpret and be part of the improvisation as well, such as articulations and ornamentation, and tempo too. They're a point of reference though not rules, for example, a minor second would usually mean sadness and you should usually play it legato, but in reality it's free to interpretation and you can play the staccato to display joy, or whatever. I suggest you play it at a tempo where it functions musically, don't worry if it's the "correct" way of playing it, if it works then it means that it's right .

[indianajo]

There are a lot of things we don't know about JS Bach, but one thing we do know, metronomes weren't common then. He didn't even have a piano, he was stuck with a harpsichord or a pipe organ.  Inventions were probably more for the harpsichord.  
As a student, your teacher may want you to demonstrate that you can play it fairly briskly. The old time harpsichord skills of articulation are useful, since volume was not something JSB could use to express himself.  However, after you have those skills down, you may play any speed you feel appropriate for pleasure.  Meeting the expectations of the audience is an entirely other subject.  In part, you have to know the audience. Then decide if your goal is to shock or challenge, or to sooth and placate.  Contest judges, maybe the latter is in order.    
Personally, I thought the 3 hours pay I spent on the Glenn Gould Inventions LP in 1969 was a waste of money.  I hated it, and liked the way my piano teacher taught me (pretty much what Mr Busoni lined out). much better.  I like the Wanda Landowski LP of Goldberg Variations I bought for $.50 in 2010 much better.  I'm looking at the charity resale shop for her inventions LP (if she ever recorded one).