Bach: 15 Two-Part Inventions for Violin & Cello (arr. James M. Guthrie) by J. S. Bach Sheet Music for Instrumental Duet at Sheet Music Direct

Product Details

Artist J. S. Bach

Score Type

PDF, Included with PASS

Composer J. S. Bach

Arranger James M. Guthrie

Format Digital Sheet Music

Pages 75

Arrangement Instrumental Duet

Publisher jmsgu3

Level 3

Product ID 577178

Genre Baroque Traditional Standards Historic Chamber

Instruments Cello Violin

Product Description

The historical context of Bach's 15 Two-Part Inventions is rooted in their didactic purpose and significance in developing keyboard technique and musical expression. Composed around 1720, these pieces were part of Bach's "Klavierbüchlein," a collection of 62 short works for keyboard compiled for his nine-year-old son, Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. The Inventions were designed as exercises to teach two-part playing, familiarize students with musical ideas, and provide a taste of composition.

They were structured with care, with the first three based on scales, the following three on broken chords, and a combination of both in the final piece, almost resembling a fugue in form. Bach's Inventions are experiments on musical ideas and a new way of combining lines, reflecting his didactic aim and providing a clear path for students to learn to play cleanly in two parts and acquire a strong foretaste of composition.

The inventions' musical elements, composition, and piano technique can be effectively learned and expressed through different instruments. The adaptability of Bach's Two-Part Inventions to various instruments allows for a broader exploration of musical ideas and will enable instrumentalists to develop their technical and expressive abilities.

This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.