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Topic: Speed for Invention 13 (Read 4578 times)

faa2010

PS Silver Member
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Posts: 563

Greetings,

I am playing Invention 13 at maximum 70 bpm, but I think it is still slow.

When I watch videos playing it, it is faster. However I saw in a book that there is a speed range for the Inventions of Bach.

Which could be a fair speed for this piece?, in which speed range should the piece be played.

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brogers70

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Posts: 1765

Re: Speed for Invention 13

Reply #1 on: February 29, 2016, 12:24:22 PM

To me, Bach's music is tolerant of a pretty wide range of tempi. Generally I think it is played too fast; there's a lot going on contrapuntally, and if it just zips by, the listener cannot hear all the interesting details. Obviously the affect of some pieces dictates a relatively quick tempo, but speed is not the goal.

That particular invention can sound fine at 70 bpm. Just pick a tempo at which you feel relaxed and can bring out the different articulations between the lines without getting tense.

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deandeblock

Full Member
Posts: 166

Re: Speed for Invention 13

Reply #2 on: February 29, 2016, 02:07:36 PM

Quote from: faa2010 on February 29, 2016, 08:16:19 AM

Greetings,

I am playing Invention 13 at maximum 70 bpm, but I think it is still slow.

When I watch videos playing it, it is faster. However I saw in a book that there is a speed range for the Inventions of Bach.

Which could be a fair speed for this piece?, in which speed range should the piece be played.

I find this Invention particularly interesting! Can you record a bit and share it ?

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quantum

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Posts: 6269

Re: Speed for Invention 13

Reply #3 on: February 29, 2016, 08:06:33 PM

IMO, whatever tempo is chosen, the result needs to be musically viable.

You can practice this yourself by choosing a range or tempi, and forming musically viable interpretations at each tempo.

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Made a Liszt. Need new Handel's for Soler panel & Alkan foil. Will Faure Stein on the way to pick up Mendels' sohn. Josquin get Wolfgangs Schu with Clara. Gone Chopin, I'll be Bach

briansaddleback

Sr. Member
Posts: 705

Re: Speed for Invention 13

Reply #4 on: February 29, 2016, 08:41:56 PM

I would say play that invention at a slightly more than Andante speed, perhaps a light jog speed. Kind of like the speed you would embark on when you're leaving the security baggage check heading to your gate (the farthest one of course) when your flight is leaving in 10 minutes.

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visitor

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Posts: 5294

Re: Speed for Invention 13

Reply #5 on: February 29, 2016, 08:43:43 PM

Quote from: briansaddleback on February 29, 2016, 08:41:56 PM

I would say play that invention at a slightly more than Andante speed, perhaps a light jog speed. Kind of like the speed you would embark on when at the baggage check to the gate when your flight is leaving in 10 minutes.

+1, generally people play andante too slow, think 'andale andale andadle' -->'hurry it up" lol, people usually take andante to mean adagio or lento, or 'grave' in the most extreme cases

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1piano4joe

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 418

Re: Speed for Invention 13

Reply #6 on: March 01, 2016, 02:44:49 AM

Hi faa2010,

A quarter note or crotchet = 80-88 bpm.

Your almost there.

I hope that helps, Joe.

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