Bach: 15 Inventions, BWV 772-786 - Vladimir Feltsman

The 15 Two Part Inventions came from the "Clavier-Buchlein'" ("Clavier-book") for Wilhelm Friedman Bach. The pedagogic purpose of these creations is very clear. Bach's general title opens with the words 'Candid Instructions.' He addresses his works to ‘lovers of music and to those eager for instructions.’ Inventions, therefore, serve a dual purpose: they help to learn how to 'invent,' compose and work with basic musical material, and they help to learn how to develop a singing 'cantabile' manner of performance. These pieces are studied by children at a very early age. As a rule, they are the very first works of Bach to which young pianists are exposed.