The Inventions and Sinfonias, BWV 772?801, also known
as the Two and Three Part Inventions, are a collection
of thirty short keyboard compositions composed by
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685?1750), consisting of
fifteen inventions (two-part contrapuntal pieces) and
fifteen sinfonias (three-part contrapuntal pieces).
They were originally written by Bach as exercises for
the musical education of his students.
Bach titled the collection: "Honest method, by which
the amateurs of the keyboard ? ...(+)
The Inventions and Sinfonias, BWV 772?801, also known
as the Two and Three Part Inventions, are a collection
of thirty short keyboard compositions composed by
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685?1750), consisting of
fifteen inventions (two-part contrapuntal pieces) and
fifteen sinfonias (three-part contrapuntal pieces).
They were originally written by Bach as exercises for
the musical education of his students.
Bach titled the collection: "Honest method, by which
the amateurs of the keyboard ? especially, however,
those desirous of learning ? are shown a clear way not
only (1) to learn to play cleanly in two parts, but
also, after further progress, (2) to handle three
obligate parts correctly and well; and along with this
not only to obtain good inventions (ideas) but to
develop the same well; above all, however, to achieve a
cantabile style in playing and at the same time acquire
a strong foretaste of composition.