J .S. Bach’s Invention 11 BWV 782 arranged for clarinet in Bb duo is a work exploring the minor scale. The chromatic element in the movement is strong and the accidentals make this a challenging score to both read and remember. The best preparation for playing this movement is to play the minor scale appropriately transposed in both its forms slowly until the sound of each is familiar. The movements sounds in the original key of G minor whilst the sheet music parts are appropriately transposed. In this version ornaments do not sound in the realisation or playback score although they are indicated in the sheet music score. The movement is probably best learnt without the ornaments in place in the first instance. In the original piano version of the inventions the use of treble and bass clef ensures an interval distance of usually in excess of an octave. In this arrangement the music editor has maintained this where it is appropriate but when necessary the clarinet 2 part has some octave transpositions to keep to the range of the instrument. The playback score in the arrangement for the clarinet in Bb duo has a tempo of 60 quarter note or crotchet beats to the minute. The suggestion is that the movement can be played both at slower and faster tempo. The inventions are concentrated demanding movements to play in an ensemble context but excellent for encouraging listening skills, good intonation and accurate playing. Legato playing is needed in a performance although there is scope to broaden the detail of how the notes are articulated. Any exaggerated playing does need to be avoided. Accompaniments are in place allowing clarinet players to participate in ensemble activities as part of practice routines. Clarinet 1 sounds on one side of the stereo channel and Clarinet 2 on the other. Accompaniment tracks play back at 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66 and 68 quarter note (crotchet) beats per minute. Accompaniment backing tracks are recorded with a dry acoustic to encourage accuracy in playing. There is one bar count in /click track at the beginning of the accompaniment tracks. Instrumentalists should spend time listening to performances of the work by a range of musical instruments to understanding playing approaches. Players will possibly need to edit their scores with reminders about accidentals within the bar. The Bach Inventions are generally intermediate level movements when played on a keyboard instrument. Playing levels will perhaps need to be reviewed when different instrument combinations are involved. 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 journey. 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. They are excellent pieces for developing a sound and secure keyboard technique. When played in an ensemble context there is not much other music that can better prepare players for this type of music activity. Those learning how to use music notation software and improve their listening skills will find this an excellent study to copy simply because of the many accidentals that require attention from the listening and notation point of view. Accurate notation will suggest an excellent understanding of staff notation.
