Inventions and Sinfonias (Bach)
The Inventions and Sinfonias are a collection of works by Johann Sebastian Bach, consisting of 15 two-part ( BWV 772-786 ), and 15 three-part ( BWV 787-801 ) polyphonic sets for keyboard instrument (eg clavichord or harpsichord). The original title is " Auffrichtige guide".
Formation and arrangement
Originally, the two-voice pieces " Praeambulum " were titled and the three-part "Fantasia"; . they were part of the piano booklet for Wilhelm Friedemann Bach 1720 1723 Bach wrote it again in fair copy from - in a new location and with the new title, with numerous additional ornaments and a few corrections and rhythmic changes. In addition there are two transcripts that an unknown Bach student probably around 1723, and a copy of Heinrich Nicolaus Gerber from 1725. Both have a rich ornamentation on. Today also sometimes or in addition, the term "two- and three -part Inventions " is used (Latin inventio = " invention ").
In his fair copy of 1723 Bach ordered the Inventions and Sinfonias after ascending keys. In the uncustomary at the time keys are in contrast to the " Well-Tempered Clavier " pieces not before.
Character and intent
The Inventions and Sinfonias are not only occasionally performed pieces, but mainly exercise works for players and exemplary instruction for composing; also further contributions to a philosophy of music. They contain numerous examples of contrapuntal composition manner.
Bach presented the minutes from 1723 to the next song as " Instructions " above. The italics corresponds Bach German script:
Individual records Inventions
Individual records symphonies
Similar two -part pieces
Bach else has written very few consistently two -part pieces for keyboard instruments. In his Clavierübung Part III, he published in 1739 four movements, which he wrote with " duet", and have a much larger extent than the Inventions and compositionally well ahead of these - they are characterized by highly developed contrapuntal technique with frequent fixations and inversions, on the other hand also by large harmonic boldness with much chromaticism. In a very similar form, he added the fourteen Contrapuncti the Art of Fugue in four rigorous two-part canons that require a virtuoso player.
Two pure two -voice ensembles remember from a distance of an invention and its continuous counterpoint often coagulates to canonical passages, but which are abandoned just as quickly, the Fantasia sur un Rondeau in C minor, BWV 918 and the articles known as Fantasia input movement of the Partita 3 in A minor, BWV 827, the e minor fugue from the first volume of the Well -Tempered Clavier is probably the only example of a two -part fugue dar.