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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Here is No. 12
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Harriet Kaplan Beautiful! Nice cantabile you got going there. I think this may be my next one. Love your touch and how the notes are detached just so, so there is still a legato.
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Natalie Peh thank you!
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Harriet Kaplan This one’s tricky; love the ease with which you play it so beautifully!
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Harriet Kaplan Excellent interpretation of one of the most difficult inventions! I love the tempo.
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Juan Carlos Olite thank you. My old Schirmer edition has something crazy like 84 to the dotted quarter.
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Harriet Kaplan The greatness of this music is that it admits different tempi; so it is a personal choice.
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Juan Carlos Olite absolutely.
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Harriet Kaplan
Sounds good. 
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Harriet Kaplan Wonderful playing! Great job with the trills!
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Harriet Kaplan Oooh, I love the way you play this one, Harriet. Great trills & mordents, plus a lovely fluidity that carries the piece along. I might try to learn this one!
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Harriet Kaplan This invention is becoming my newest favourite and you have played it very well! I can’t wait to play that hand-crossing part, it looks very fun.
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Fifth video: invention nº 14 in B-flat Major:
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Juan Carlos Olite Lovely playing!
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Juan Carlos Olite your playing sounds so lively! This is very nice!
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Juan Carlos Olite Wonderful playing, Juan Carlos! I'm enjoying your touch on this invention, lively and bright.
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Juan Carlos Olite Bravo, Juan Carlos! Wonderful playing!
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Vidhya Bashyam Natalie Peh Sindre Skarelven Andrea Buckland Thank you very much, Bach mates! As Jeremy Denk says (in his wonderful book "Every Good Boy Does Fine") Bach hates stopping..., we have to find and express the "ongoingness" of his music... Fascinating task!
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Juan Carlos Olite
You play with so much ease! -
Melanie Sinn Thank you so much, Melanie!
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Juan Carlos Olite I just read Jeremy's book AND he is coming to play in my town this Spring. Interestingly, he and I shared the same teacher, even though he is 10 years younger than I am!!
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Juan Carlos Olite I love your energy and phrasing, Juan Carlos. And, your rubato at the end finishes this invention perfectly.
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Gail Starr Thank you very much, Gail! What teacher are you talking about? In Jeremy's book he talks about several teachers...
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Juan Carlos Olite He and I went to the same summer music program in North Carolina. His teacher there was my teacher at home in Florida from ages 9-13, Bernice Maskin. I thought she was an excellent teacher but he didn't like her. Or, rather, I got the sense that SHE did not like HIM because he didn't want to practice!
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Sorry, I don't know what I did but it came out twice
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Ah, no. It's right.
