I bought a book of Bach inventions. I just finished playing Invention 13 (A Minor) and I would like to play more. I am at the skill level to be able to play any one of them, so that is not an issue. Which one do you guys prefer? Which one sounds the coolest/is the most fun to play?

They're all good. For me, Nr. 13 is the most fun, but Nr. 4, and Nr. 8 are fun as well, once under the fingers. Nr. 1 can be beautiful if not rushed and a couple of others can be beautiful if less virtuosic.

I am currently learing No. 8. It is my favorite.

#5 is very cool.

I really like No. 2 and No. 14.

John

You started with my favorite, but I think No. 6 in E is wonderful as well. Unfortunately, I doubt you'll get much of a consensus since there aren't very many that people dislike.

Ted

I normally would recommend all of them. I challenge a few of my more capable students to play the all 15-piece set for recital. To do all 15 by memory is not too easy a task to many students. If one manages it he or she would benefit almost infinitely from the learning experience. The person would learn sooooooooo much!

You can try your hand at 15,4,8. 2 may be more difficult but is worth it.

no.9 is good too, but it took me long time to memorize it.

I love them all. I can play #1,8,13, and #14. I hope some day to be able to play all of them,but doubt very much if I will be able to memorize them. Was real pleased with myself when I finally got #14, pretty much memorized and could play it at a good tempo. Then saw a video of a youngster around 10 years of age just rippling it off---all from memory. It was humbling experience. Gaby Tu

1,2,4,8,13,14,15

No. 2 is one of my favorite pieces of all time. Most people play it way too fast. I play it even slower than Glenn Gould. SO MUCH feeling in that little jewel.

The typical order of teaching the Inventions is 1, 4, 8, 13, 14, 2, 3, 15. 11 and 12 are actually quite difficult.

Actually, I disagree with this. There are more than a few "clunkers" in this set, and it would take too long to learn all 15 pieces. Better time could be spent learning an entire French Suite or Partita.

Ive done no. 1 in c(one of the harder ones)
and ive done no. 14 in b flat(challenging)


both are great. Next, Im doibng no. 4 in d minor

@ hyonchingonchon:

I always considered No. 1 as one of the easiest or the easiest. It took me about 2 weeks last spring to learn and memorize it.

I wouldn't say that any of them are particularly easy if they are to be playing convicingly and accurately. There's a lot more to these than what appears on the page one you start analyizing the music for form, harmonic transitions and structure.

Having said this, what you learn in these pieces can be applied to anything else that Bach has written including his Partitas. Take a look at the Invention No. 14 in B-flat, and compare it to the overture section of his Partita No. 2 in C-minor. You'll notice a lot of similarities in the Andante section of this piece. He uses this motif in his one of his French Suites as well as I think the Prelude in G-minor from WTC Book one.

John

@ John:

Of course none of these pieces can be called easy, just like piano concertos. But some have to be easier than others, right?

True, Matt. Some pieces are "easier than the others."

John

No. 6 is my absolute favourite. I finished studying it with my teacher some weeks ago, but still have lots of ideas how to take it further.

No. 2 to me is very peaceful and calming, like a long meditation.

Just personal opinions, of course.

Learn all of them.

Anybody have any words of wisdom on how to execute on piano those places in the inventions where things get kind of tangled because of lack of the second keyboard you'd have with a harpsichord? There are two or three spots like that, I think, and I've never really tried to come to grips with what to do (other than avoid those inventions).

I'm "beyond their level" but, I undertook the task of memorizing all 15, I'm learning one each week. It's quite a fun experience, and you you can draw so much from them especially if you're a bit older and can appreciate the two-part genius that they're written with. It's quite extraordinary. I'll also, I'm sure, help fugues! I wish I would've known better and studied them all a long time ago. Before I enter college for the 2009 year, I'd like to learn all Two and Three Part Inventions.
I think they're all fine! 1 is fun, 2 is kind of cool harmonically (I noticed a relationship between jazz there once).

Nos 1, 8 and 13 are frequently taught and played--and I've done these. But No. 12 is my favorite!

Regarding performing these as a set, I actually attended a recital earlier this year (2007) by the Austrian pianist Till Fellner, who played the entire set of the 3-part Inventions. Because I'm not as familiar with the 3-part Inventions (my teacher pushed me to learn the WTC after only a few 3-part Inventions), it was a particularly enjoyable experience.