Group-journey threw J.S. Bach - Two and three part inventions!
This thread is a group-thread dedicated to J.S. Bach Two part inventions. The point is that we can discover them and go deeper into them together, and motivate each other in the prosess of learning and practicing them.
Who is this for? This is for everyone who wants to join!
What's the goal? You define your own goal, with how much you want to learn. But try to commit to learn 1, 2, 3, or how many you like. Share your goal with the rest of us!
Why learn two and three part inventions? In Bach's own words (of course translated to english) "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."
Some recording links on Spotify:
Glenn Gould
https://open.spotify.com/album/42SxOjm6223yaSs0vH9Um6?si=z91-IcooSq6o3vQ4ny5zyg
Jansen/Rysanov/Théeden https://open.spotify.com/album/2607OCLeDNFKNOO01OVd9P?si=uxSNmxM2Rle_SKYUpLLGyQ
András Schiff
https://open.spotify.com/album/7B6F306xdRIC0A1Rka5cbg?si=J6mliKjDTk2h2gw9p91Rog
Resources on Tonebase: Magdalena Stern-Baczewska Course: Intro to J. S. Bach’s Keyboard Music
Ben Laude Live session: Bach Invention No. 1: Analysis for Performers
https://app.tonebase.co/piano/live/player/bach-invention-1-ben-laude
For everyone joining: Please make a post of your personal goals threw this journey. Remember every goal is fine! I hope participants will share video-updates regularly, so we can follow each others progress!
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You guys are all doing such an amazing job with these inventions that I feel compelled to join in. I have not played much Bach in my life, so learning this set will be really good for me. I thought I'd start learning number 13 today as I like that one very much! I am planning to do learn of one invention per day (weekdays), finish it the next, and hopefully have it memorised and somewhat polished by the third day. That's the plan, anyway. So here goes for the first half of invention 13 - warning - still some balance issues that I didn't pick up until I heard the recording...
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Sindre Skarelven thank you. This is a really good idea! Thank you for organising this.
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In watching your videos, y'all make Bach look like so much fun to play! I've been playing piano only since April of this year, so the Inventions are a bit out of my reach right now, but I am thoroughly enjoying listening to all of you. Thank you!
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Michelle R That's great to hear, Michelle! This group is all about inspiration
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Watching everyone else, felt like I had to share where I'm at, even though not even half way through. Been working on No. 4 for the past two weeks, decided to record in three different speeds, I'm really not sure yet how to play this. Anyway, reached the switch to F major and the long trill... next time :)
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Roy this was lovely, sensitive playing. Thank you for sharing. I found the 2nd tempo had a lovely momentum, whilst allowing you freedom to play expressively. Well done!
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Jackie thank you!
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Roy Sounds great! Looking forward to hearing the rest!
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Roy sounds very good! You play it very expressively.
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Roy very nice playing, Roy!
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Andrea Buckland Vidhya Bashyam Natalie Peh thank you so much for the nice words.
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Roy Sounds awesome, Roy! Very interesting to hear the different tempi. Looking forward to hear the next section when you're ready for it!
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Roy Very musical and sensitive playing, Roy! Looking forward the whole invention!
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Juan Carlos Olite Sindre Skarelven thank you! I can actually play it through already, if only for those two endless trills... I'll get it eventually :)
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Roy Awesome! Those trills are not easy, but you will get them down!
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Roy Yes, you're right, these trills are a headache, specially the left hand one... Cheer up!
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Roy, nice work! Great improvement in 2 weeks! You seem to play with such ease...
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Agnes thank you so much :)
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Invention 14 (working backwards!).
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Harriet Kaplan sounds lovely! I like the staccato on the quavers, which I want to try to do more of for this piece, gives it a lighter feel.
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Harriet Kaplan lovely. Realy like the lightness
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Harriet Kaplan Wonderful playing! It's a very pretty invention. You seem to be on a roll now!
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Harriet Kaplan Great playing, Harriet, with grace and direction!
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Harriet Kaplan Love it! One of my favorite inventions!
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Oh my goodness, I just shared this and it disappeared! It's that kind of day. Today, I haven't had much time to spend on Invention 13 and haven't decided on an interpretation. I also realised that I need to do that on the second page before deciding on how I want to approach the first page. So rather than sharing a performance video with you, I will share a few minutes of me considering possibilities of how to interpret the second half.
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Jackie Nice to see your thought process Jackie!
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