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Inventions and Sinfonias


The 15 Two-part Inventions, BWV 722-786, and 15 Three-part Inventions, BWV787-801, the latter also known as Sinfonias, have their origins in the "Clavierbüchlein vor Wilhelm Friedemann Bach" which was started in 1720. In 1723, during his tenure as Kapellmeister in Cöthen, Bach made a fair copy of the two definitive sets, a beautifully written manuscript which is the basis for all modern editions. The fair copy bears this hand-written introduction in typical Bach style :

HONEST METHOD
by which the amateurs of the clavichord - 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 obligato 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.


From this, we can think it possible that Bach, while being well aware of the Inventions' many didactical qualities, originally intended them as a guide to extempore playing.

Another interesting issue is how they are numbered. Bach often numbered series of compositions in chromatic key order, starting at C major, and this is also the case with the two series of Inventions. Before the tempered tuning of instruments, the 24 keys existed in theory, but only 15 keys (C major, C minor, D major, D minor, E-flat major, E major, E minor, F major, F minor, G major, G minor, A major, A minor, B-flat major and B minor) were actually used in practice, and that is why both sets contain 15 pieces.

In the order above, it is obvious that the famous eight Invention should be in F major, which is indeed the key in which we know and love it. However, two different manuscript reproductions exist for this invention, using different numbering (see the manuscript page. The manuscript numbered as 8 was reproduced by Louis Spohr (1784 - 1859) while a manuscript reproduced by Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (J. S. Bach's oldest son and second child) is numbered as Invention number 4. Could Wilhelm Friedemann have made a simple mistake, or was the original numbering not in chromatic order? We may never know...

In any case, there are few works in keyboard literature which so gloriously blend didactical and musical qualities.


15 Two-part Inventions, BWV 772-786 (1723)

Complete recording by Robert Ståhlbrand

Recorded in 2007
1
BWV 772
Invention No.1 in C major1:03
2
BWV 773
Invention No.2 in C minor
2:23
3
BWV 774
Invention No.3 in D major
1:39
4
BWV 775
Invention No.4 in D minor
0:52
5
BWV 776
Invention No.5 in E-flat major
2:21
6
BWV 777
Invention No.6 in E major
4:37
7
BWV 778
Invention No.7 in E minor
1:59
8
BWV 779Invention No.8 in F major1:00
9
BWV 780
Invention No.9 in F minor
2:05
10
BWV 781
Invention No.10 in G major
1:05
11
BWV 782
Invention No.11 in G minor
1:29
12
BWV 783
Invention No.12 in A major
1:43
13
BWV 784
Invention No.13 in A minor
1:20
14
BWV 785
Invention No.14 in B-flat major
1:47
15
BWV 786
Invention No.15 in B minor
1:36


15 Two-part Inventions, BWV 772-786 (1723)

Complete recording by Breemer, C.

Recorded jan/feb 2008
1BWV 772Invention No. 1 in C major 1:02
2BWV 773Invention No. 2 in C minor 1:43
3BWV 774Invention No. 3 in D major 1:34
4BWV 775Invention No. 4 in D minor 0:51
5BWV 776Invention No. 5 in E flat major 1:37
6BWV 777Invention No. 6 in E major 3:23
7BWV 778Invention No. 7 in E minor 1:09
8BWV 779Invention No. 8 in F major 0:49
9BWV 780Invention No. 9 in F minor 1:21
10BWV 781Invention No. 10 in G major 1:05
11BWV 782Invention No. 11 in G minor 1:03
12BWV 783Invention No. 12 in A major 1:36
13BWV 784Invention No. 13 in A minor 1:17
14BWV 785Invention No. 14 in B flat major 1:15
15BWV 786Invention No. 15 in B minor 0:59


15 Two-part Inventions, BWV 772-786 (1723)

Complete recording by Renouf, J.

Recorded in 2009/2009
1BWV 772Invention No. 1 in C major 1:29
2BWV 773Invention No. 2 in C minor 2:28
3BWV 774Invention No. 3 in D major 1:26
4BWV 775Invention No. 4 in D minor 1:02
5BWV 776Invention No. 5 in E flat major 1:52
6BWV 777Invention No. 6 in E major 3:20
7BWV 778Invention No. 7 in E minor 1:55
8BWV 779Invention No. 8 in F major 1:12
9BWV 780Invention No. 9 in F minor 2:06
10BWV 781Invention No. 10 in G major 1:21
11BWV 782Invention No. 11 in G minor 2:03
12BWV 783Invention No. 12 in A major 1:42
13BWV 784Invention No. 13 in A minor 1:24
14BWV 785Invention No. 14 in B flat major 1:48
15BWV 786Invention No. 15 in B minor 1:31


15 Two-part Inventions, BWV 772-786 (1723)

Various artists

1
BWV 772Invention No.1 in C major1:49
Bertram, J.
1
BWV 772
Invention No.1 in C major1:18
Bronner, F.
1
BWV 772Invention No.1 in C major1:01
Hammer, T.
1
BWV 772Invention No.1 in C major1:21
Pfaul, A.
2
BWV 773Invention No.2 in C minor5:26
Bertram, J.
2
BWV 773Invention No.2 in C minor
1:44
Hammer, T.
2
BWV 773
Invention No.2 in C minor1:57
McCarthy, M.
3
BWV 774Invention No.3 in D major2:10
Bertram, J.
4
BWV 775Invention No.4 in D minor1:02
Bertram, J.
4
BWV 775
Invention No.4 in D minor1:02
Bronner, F.
4
BWV 775Invention No.4 in D minor0:57
Pfaul, A.
8
BWV 779
Invention No.8 in F major
1:05
Assimakopoulos, P.
8
BWV 779
Invention No.8 in F major0:54
McCarthy, M.
13
BWV 784
Invention No.13 in A minor
1:11
Hart, M.
13
BWV 784
Invention No.13 in A minor
0:56
Cameron, J.
13
BWV 784
Invention No.13 in A minor
1:23
Silva, M da
14
BWV 785
Invention No.14 in B flat major
1:06
Silva, M da
15
BWV 786
Invention No.15 in B minor1:03
Bronner, F.
15
BWV 786Invention No.15 in B minor1:24
Chetty, S.



15 Three-part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787-801 (1723)

Complete recording by Gregorio Szames

Recorded in 2007
1BWV 787Sinfonia No. 1 in C major 0:52
2BWV 788Sinfonia No. 2 in C minor 2:28
3BWV 789Sinfonia No. 3 in D major Buy this recording1:07
4BWV 790Sinfonia No. 4 in D minor 3:01
5BWV 791Sinfonia No. 5 in E-flat major2:57
6BWV 792Sinfonia No. 6 in E major 0:55
7BWV 793Sinfonia No. 7 in E minor 1:31
8BWV 794Sinfonia No. 8 in F major 1:05
9BWV 795Sinfonia No. 9 in F minor 4:18
10BWV 796Sinfonia No.10 in G major 0:59
11BWV 797Sinfonia No.11 in G minor 2:19
12BWV 798Sinfonia No.12 in A major 1:24
13BWV 799Sinfonia No.13 in A minor 1:31
14BWV 800Sinfonia No.14 in B-flat major1:11
15BWV 801Sinfonia No.15 in B minor 1:26



15 Three-part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787-801 (1723)

Complete recording by Randolph Hokanson

1BWV 787Sinfonia No. 1 in C major 1:16
2BWV 788Sinfonia No. 2 in C minor 1:50
3BWV 789Sinfonia No. 3 in D major 1:12
4BWV 790Sinfonia No. 4 in D minor 1:56
5BWV 791Sinfonia No. 5 in E-flat major2:26
6BWV 792Sinfonia No. 6 in E major 1:32
7BWV 793Sinfonia No. 7 in E minor 2:17
8BWV 794Sinfonia No. 8 in F major 1:11
9BWV 795Sinfonia No. 9 in F minor 3:14
10BWV 796Sinfonia No.10 in G major 1:02
11BWV 797Sinfonia No.11 in G minor 1:34
12BWV 798Sinfonia No.12 in A major 1:25
13BWV 799Sinfonia No.13 in A minor 1:36
14BWV 800Sinfonia No.14 in B-flat major2:07
15BWV 801Sinfonia No.15 in B minor 1:31



15 Three-part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787-801 (1723)

Complete recording by Breemer, C.

Recorded march, 2008
1BWV 787Sinfonia No. 1 in C major 1:04
2BWV 788Sinfonia No. 2 in C minor 2:04
3BWV 789Sinfonia No. 3 in D major 1:15
4BWV 790Sinfonia No. 4 in D minor 1:42
5BWV 791Sinfonia No. 5 in E flat major 2:42
6BWV 792Sinfonia No. 6 in E major 1:11
7BWV 793Sinfonia No. 7 in E minor 2:29
8BWV 794Sinfonia No. 8 in F major 1:17
9BWV 795Sinfonia No. 9 in F minor 2:52
10BWV 796Sinfonia No. 10 in G major 1:15
11BWV 797Sinfonia No. 11 in G minor 1:37
12BWV 798Sinfonia No. 12 in A major 1:37
13BWV 799Sinfonia No. 13 in A minor 2:03
14BWV 800Sinfonia No. 14 in B flat major 1:40
15BWV 801Sinfonia No. 15 in B minor 1:27


15 Three-part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787-801 (1723)

Complete recording by Renouf, J.

Recorded in 2008/2009
1BWV 787Sinfonia No. 1 in C major 2:02
2BWV 788Sinfonia No. 2 in C minor 2:05
3BWV 789Sinfonia No. 3 in D major 1:45
4BWV 790Sinfonia No. 4 in D minor 2:16
5BWV 791Sinfonia No. 5 in E flat major 1:25
6BWV 792Sinfonia No. 6 in E major 1:40
7BWV 793Sinfonia No. 7 in E minor 3:19
8BWV 794Sinfonia No. 8 in F major 1:14
9BWV 795Sinfonia No. 9 in F minor 3:25
10BWV 796Sinfonia No. 10 in G major 2:06
11BWV 797Sinfonia No. 11 in G minor 2:33
12BWV 798Sinfonia No. 12 in A major 1:38
13BWV 799Sinfonia No. 13 in A minor 2:40
14BWV 800Sinfonia No. 14 in B flat major 1:32
15BWV 801Sinfonia No. 15 in B minor 1:49


15 Three-part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787-801 (1723)

Complete recording by Stan Winitsky

Recorded in 2009/2010
1
BWV 787
Sinfonia No. 1 in C major
1:16
2
BWV 788
Sinfonia No. 2 in C minor
2:33
3
BWV 789
Sinfonia No. 3 in D major
1:29
4
BWV 790
Sinfonia No. 4 in D minor2:13
5
BWV 791
Sinfonia No. 5 in E flat major
2:35
6
BWV 792
Sinfonia No. 6 in E major
1:38
7
BWV 793Sinfonia No. 7 in E minor2:11
8
BWV 794
Sinfonia No. 8 in F major
1:16
9
BWV 795
Sinfonia No. 9 in F minor3:22
10
BWV 796
Sinfonia No.10 in G major
1:25
11
BWV 797Sinfonia No.11 in G minor2:26
12
BWV 798
Sinfonia No.12 in A major1:36
13
BWV 799
Sinfonia No.13 in A minor
1:58
14
BWV 800
Sinfonia No. 14 in B flat major
2:07
15
BWV 801
Sinfonia No. 15 in B minor
1:45



15 Three-part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787-801 (1723)

Various artists

6BWV 792Sinfonia No. 6 in E major1:35Bertazzi, A.
6
BWV 792
Sinfonia No. 6 in E major
1:38
Winitsky, S.
7BWV 793Sinfonia No. 7 in E minor2:07McCarthy, M.
11BWV 797Sinfonia No.11 in G minor3:22Bertazzi, A.
11
BWV 797Sinfonia No.11 in G minor2:21
Chetty, S.
11
BWV 797
Sinfonia No.11 in G minor
2:06
Sarro, F.




Published:
Jan 6, 2016
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