In the year 1723, J.S. Bach rearranged and reworked his Two-Part Inventions to present them in an authoritative version, with the intention of bringing about pure keyboard playing. The Two-Part Inventions remain, to this day, among the most popular keyboard works by the composer. Vienna Urtext s new edition of this essential teaching work for piano strictly follows Bach s manuscript and contains facsimile examples from the composer s autograph. Both the earlier and later versions of Invention One are included in this definitive edition.
These are astonishing little pieces for piano (and arranged for every other instrument) that take the student through the rudiments of counterpoint. Each one has its own unique charm and are quite difficult, at least for me. The separate hands technique is definitely your friend with these exercises.
I remember wanting to play these since I started playing piano (and subsequently gave up on it on the first try). Now that I’m back I’m finally starting to plow through these. At this point in my learning curve it takes quite a lot of commitment to master one of these so I doubt that I’ll make it through all 15. I think that I am and will be a much better pianist for the effort.
As I muddle through the first of these exercises in C Major:
I’m sure that I’ll play these every day that I sit down at the piano. I have learned three so far: #1, #6, and #14. #14 really kicked my ass but I stuck with it. I think it is my favorite. I didn't seem to have any problems with technique, I just had a hard time memorizing it. I still look at the music when I play the first part. #6 was a lot easier, or I'm improving.
They are just so incredibly clever. I have to say that I like listening to these much more than I do the three-part sinfonias, although those may be more fun to play. At this point in my playing, they are way too difficult. My dream is to play some of his fugues. A boy has to have a dream.
Üks esimestest kordadest kui ma võtsin eraldi ette kindla paladeseeria läbitöötamiseks. Väga arendav ja samas ka proovilepanev. Iga invensiooni õpib nii umbes nädala või kahega ära, aga proovi sa teda täiesti laitmatuks poleerida (!). Ka väga hea kontrapunktharmoonia muusikaliseks analüüsiks, kui oskused selleks peaks olema (endal väga pole, abiks oli õpetaja). Lemmikud olid 4. ja 8. inventsioon (mõlemad päris levinud). Väga konkreetsed ja kergestikuulatavad.
This book is one of the most seminal works for the study of counterpoint from the master of the late Baroque style. I appreciate that this edition contains 17 pages of thoughtful context, explanation, and discussion, particularly of the ornaments that are peculiar to Bach's body of work. The score engraving for each of the 15 pieces is clear and all editorial content (dynamics, ornament interpretation, phrasing, tempos, etc.) are printed in gray to clearly distinguish what is original and what is added for this edition.
This is a wonderful book. It includes extensive notes about playing the ornamentation in Bach‘s Sinfonias and Inventions, as well as reproductions of Bach’s original scores. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is a student of Bach.
So fun! These are excellent to learn after some introductory Bach work, but before the Sinfonias and Preludes and Fugues of the Well-tempered Clavier. The player gets extensive practice in playing two different melodies simultaneously in the two different hands.
Excellent keyboard/piano pieces that I still like to teach to students. I also like to use this book in a duo setting with bass players/students, where I play the top line on guitar, and they play the bottom line on bass.
A nice clean edition of the inventions with ornaments written out in grey to help pianists learn how to play them. The typesetting is clear and easy to read.