JS BACH Invention In A Minor
Bridget Mermikides creates a guitar duo arrangement of Bach’s incredible two-part Invention In A Minor. Learn either part, or both, and play along!
Bridget Mermikides has arranged a fabulous two-part version of this Bach piece (also on video). Learn both voices or duet with Bridget.
Today we revisit the work of that extraordinary composer, organist and violinist Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). Bach’s talents were recognised by a modest number of musicians and some patrons during his long and hugely productive life, but in 260 years since has firmly established himself (along with Mozart and Beethoven) as one of the three greatest composers of Western Art Music. While Mozart is representative of the heights of the Classical era, and Beethoven the transition from the Classical to Romantic era, Bach was a master of the Baroque musical era. Baroque music is associated with a significant development in harmony and counterpoint (the sustaining of multiple simultaneous but distinct melodies), and these fundamental concepts of harmonic dissonance and consonance resonate to this day. Bach’s mastery of harmony and counterpoint has been a source of inspiration to countless musicians in a range of styles ever since.
Here we tackle a piece written during his appointment as Director of Music in Köthen when Bach was in his mid 30s. This was a rare period when he was given freedom (by his supportive employer Prince Leopold) to compose secular music, with many hugely popular and beautiful instrumental works composed in this time. Among them were the wonderful two-part inventions, written as short exercises in counterpoint with each hand of the keyboard playing independent melodies through beautiful chord progressions. They are all stunning, but I’ve selected the Two-Part Invention In A Minor as it can be arranged effectively for two guitars without changing the key. I have made decisions on adjusting the octaves but otherwise this arrangement is just as Bach wrote it three centuries ago.
Here Guitar 1 acts as the right hand of the keyboard and Guitar 2 as the left hand, so Guitar 1 will generally be higher than Guitar 2. However this piece doesn’t work as a melody ‘over’ an accompaniment, here both parts are equally important melodically (and only play single notes), and collectively they imply a sophisticated harmonic sequence. This is the essence of counterpoint: multiple musical lines that make sense horizontally (melodies) as well as vertically (harmony). This is a glorious musical experience to be a part of so I’ve provided the audio of each part separately so that you can pick either part to learn and play it with me along with my recording. Bach’s music continues to create profound connections between people of diverse styles and cultures, and so in this time of physical distancing I wanted to provide an opportunity to make such a human connection through Johann Sebastian’s beautiful music.
NEXT MONTH Bridget arranges How Beautiful Are The Feet from Handel’s Messiah
IN THE 260 YEARS SINCE HIS DEATH MOZART HAS ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS ONE OF THE THREE GREATEST COMPOSERS OF WESTERN ART MUSIC