Published in 1739 at the end of the third
Clavier-Übung (Keyboard Practice), his monumental
compilation music for harpsichord, the Duetto (4) of
Johann Sebastian Bach (1675-1750) are basically more
elaborate two-part inventions. The third Duetto in G
major, BWV 804, like the second in F major, is in
embryonic sonata form with the outer sections in the
tonic major functioning as exposition and
recapitulation and the central section modulating
through minor keys functioning as the development. Ov...(+)
Published in 1739 at the end of the third
Clavier-Übung (Keyboard Practice), his monumental
compilation music for harpsichord, the Duetto (4) of
Johann Sebastian Bach (1675-1750) are basically more
elaborate two-part inventions. The third Duetto in G
major, BWV 804, like the second in F major, is in
embryonic sonata form with the outer sections in the
tonic major functioning as exposition and
recapitulation and the central section modulating
through minor keys functioning as the development. Over
a walking bass line in the left hand, the right hand
first states the theme, a lyrical melody in short
phrases. The left hand takes the second statement of
the theme in the middle of the keyboard while the right
hand spins out the theme as embellishments at the upper
end of the keyboard. The left takes the third statement
of the theme at the bottom of the keyboard while the
right hand continues to spin out embellishments. The
central development moves to the minor and climaxes
with the theme stated in the minor in the left hand at
the bottom of the keyboard. After a transition through
imitative entrances of the theme in both hands, the
theme returns in the tonic in the right hand at the top
of the keyboard and the work closes with the theme once
again in the left hand at the bottom of the keyboard
and once again in the tonic major.