15 Duets after Two-Part Inventions, BWV 772-786 for violin and viola by Johann Sebastian Bach
Transcribed by Ferdinand David. Published by International
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was a German composer of the Baroque period and widely considered one of the greatest composers in the Western canon. He carefully studied the work of his forebears and contemporaries, incorporating intricate counterpoint and harmonic innovations into a sophisticated style that represents the zenith of the Baroque tradition. Though he wrote predominantly religious music-including several passions and over 200 cantatas-he is most celebrated today for his profoundly moving instrumental music, including concertos, suites, and sonatas, including many for strings-such as his Cello Suites and Sonatas and Partitas for violin.
Bach's contrapuntal mastery is apparent in his Inventions and Sinfonias, BWV 772-801, a collection of thirty short musical exercises, originally for keyboard, featuring the principles of inversion, imitation, and canon writing. The first 15 (inventions) employ two contrapuntal voices, while the last 15 (sinfonias) employ three. In the 19th century, violinist Ferdinand David arranged these charming pieces into chamber works for strings, appropriate for amateurs. This collection contains the Two-Part Inventions, BWV 772-786 for violin and viola. Includes two performing parts. Intermediate-advanced level, Grade 4.
CONTENTS:
- Invention No. 1 in C Major, BWV 772
- Invention No. 2 in C minor, BWV 773
- Invention No. 3 in D Major, BWV 774
- Invention No. 4 in D minor, BWV 775
- Invention No. 5 in E-flat Major, BWV 776
- Invention No. 6 in E Major, BWV 777
- Invention No. 7 in E minor, BWV 778
- Invention No. 8 in F Major, BWV 779
- Invention No. 9 in F minor, BWV 780
- Invention No. 10 in G Major, BWV 781
- Invention No. 11 in G minor, BWV 782
- Invention No. 12 in A Major, BWV 783
- Invention No. 13 in A minor, BWV 784
- Invention No. 14 in B-flat Major, BWV 785
- Invention No. 15 in B minor, BWV 786
