Invention 9 BWV 780 sounding in the key of F minor but notated in the key of D minor is a challenging invention to play particularly from the note reading point of view. There are many accidentals to read and it is easy to make music reading errors. The octave range between the parts has been maintained wherever possible but some compromises have been made with octave transpositions in the baritone saxophone part. This is an excellent movement to encourage good intonation, that is playing in tune, in duet playing. An alternative option avoiding the low A is provided for the baritone part in the ossia stave bars 30 – 31. Do feedback to PlentyMusic your opinions on our arrangements and possible improvements that can be made. A legato playing approach is required in the playing in what is a slow tempo and melancholy movement. Playing the relevant transposed scale in both its melodic and harmonic forms would be the best preparation for playing this movement. In the sheet music score the ornaments are indicated but do not sound. The realisation plays back at 56 quarter note or crotchet beats per minute. Accompaniments are in place allowing saxophone players to participate in ensemble activities as part of practice routines. The alto saxophone sounds on one side of the stereo channel and the baritone saxophone on the other. The accompaniment tracks play back at 52, 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 saxophonists may wish to refer to 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 other 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 ensemble movements.
