Invention 9 BWV 780 in the key of F minor is a challenging invention to play particularly from the note reading and voice leading point of view. There are many accidentals to read and it is easy to make music reading errors. There are some octave range transpositions in the clarinet part. An excellent movement to encourage good intonation (tuning) and the voice leading / leading note in their playing. A legato playing approach is required in the playing in what is a slow tempo and melancholy movement. Good preparation for playing this movement would be to play the Fminor scale in both its melodic and harmonic form. In the sheet music score the ornaments are indicated but do not sound. The realisation plays back at 58 quarter note or crotchet beats per minute. Accompaniments are in place allowing flute and clarinet players to participate in ensemble activities as part of practice routines. The flute sounds on one side of the stereo channel and the clarinet in Bb on the other. The accompaniment tracks play back at 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 & 64 quarter note (crotchet) beats per minute. There is a two bar count in /click track at the beginning of the accompaniment tracks. In the keyboard video score, which flute players in this instance might want to reference on the PlentyMusic YouTube channel ornaments have been written out as they sound in the realisation to represent exactly what is being played. The Bach Inventions are generally considered to be intermediate level movements when played on a keyboard instrument. The principle behind J. S. Bach’s two part inventions is to take a musical idea or motive and then process it following the rules of good contrapuntal writing using the compositional processes of the baroque and at the same time referencing the closely related keys in the key system. Inversion, repetition, sequence, transposition, rhythmic augmentation & diminution amongst processes are evident in Bach’s inventions as most other music of the baroque period. J. S. Bach composed 15 Inventions in a collection dating from 1723 intended to introduce keyboard players to composition techniques of the baroque. In addition, that he was not sadly. They are excellent pieces for ensemble playing.
