Keyboard instruments > Piano solo
Johann Sebastian Bach
Inventions and Sinfonias
Editor: Rudolf Steglich
Fingering: Hans-Martin Theopold
20.95 $
Urtext Edition without fingering, paperbound
Pages: 78 (IX, 69), Size 23,5 x 31,0 cm
Order no. HN 1064 · ISMN 979-0-2018-1064-5
Johann Sebastian Bach was not only an extremely skilled composer, but also an ingenious teacher. Even today, many piano students learn the basics of technique with his “Inventions” und “Sinfonias” and at the same time the most important elements of “classical” music. Bach called the 15 two-part pieces “Inventions” and the three-part ones “Sinfonias”. He wrote a preface to the musical text, dedicating it to “amateurs of the piano, but in particular to those who desire to learn”. Bach’s preface and a table with the most common ornaments in the “Clavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann Bach” are also reproduced in the Henle edition.
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Contents
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Invention 1 C major BWV 772
Level of difficulty (Piano): easy (Level 3)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Invention 2 c minor BWV 773
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 4)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Invention 3 D major BWV 774
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 3/4)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Invention 4 d minor BWV 775
Level of difficulty (Piano): easy (Level 3)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Invention 5 E flat major BWV 776
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 3/4)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Invention 6 E major BWV 777
Level of difficulty (Piano): easy (Level 3)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Invention 7 e minor BWV 778
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 3/4)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Invention 8 F major BWV 779
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 3/4)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Invention 9 f minor BWV 780
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 3/4)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Invention 10 G major BWV 781
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 4)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Invention 11 g minor BWV 782
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 3/4)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Invention 12 A major BWV 783
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 4)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Invention 13 a minor BWV 784
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 4)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Invention 14 B flat major BWV 785
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 3/4)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Invention 15 b minor BWV 786
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 4)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Sinfonia 1 C major BWV 787
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 4)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Sinfonia 2 c minor BWV 788
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 4/5)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Sinfonia 3 D major BWV 789
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 5)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Sinfonia 4 d minor BWV 790
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 4/5)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Sinfonia 5 E flat major BWV 791
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 4/5)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Sinfonia 6 E major BWV 792
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 4/5)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Sinfonia 7 e minor BWV 793
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 5)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Sinfonia 8 F major BWV 794
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 4/5)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Sinfonia 9 f minor BWV 795
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 4/5)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Sinfonia 10 G major BWV 796
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 5)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Sinfonia 11 g minor BWV 797
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 3/4)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Sinfonia 12 A major BWV 798
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 5)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Sinfonia 13 a minor BWV 799
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 4/5)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Sinfonia 14 B flat major BWV 800
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 5)Other titles with this level of difficulty » -
Sinfonia 15 b minor BWV 801
Level of difficulty (Piano): medium (Level 5)Other titles with this level of difficulty »
The levels of difficulty of the
piano music published by G. Henle Publishers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
easy | medium | difficult |
The levels of difficulty of the piano music published by G. Henle Publishers
Level | Grade | Example |
---|---|---|
1 | easy | Bach, Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, nos. 4 and 5 |
2 | Bach, Well-Tempered Clavier I, no. 1 Prelude C major | |
3 | Beethoven, Piano Sonatas op. 49,1 and 2 | |
4 | medium | Grieg, Lyric Pieces op. 12, no. 4 |
5 | Schumann, Fantasy Pieces op. 12, no. 1 | |
6 | Chopin, Nocturnes op. 27, nos. 1 and 2 | |
7 | difficult | Beethoven, Piano Sonata op. 10, no. 3 |
8 | Beethoven, Piano Sonata op. 81a | |
9 | Schumann, Toccata op. 7 |
Guide to the levels of difficulty
"I don't know what 'difficult' means. Either you can play or you can't" – this was the rather terse comment by the great violinist Nathan Milstein, on being asked about the unbelievable difficulty of Niccolo Paganini's Caprice no. 1.
The relativity of the evaluation of difficulty in music immediately becomes clear. Yet I gladly take up this great challenge, presented to me by G. Henle Publishers. For I am aware of how useful a guide like this can be, both from my own experience as well as that of many colleagues. In particular so as to be able to identify "appropriate" works. For example for music teachers, who teach at very different levels, from beginners to those preparing for music conservatories, but also for all those interested amateurs for whom this guide is intended.
After careful deliberation I have settled on nine levels of difficulty, which I have divided into three groups: 1–3 (easy), 4–6 (medium), 7–9 (difficult). A number of parameters have been considered when assessing the level of difficulty. I have not just looked at the number of fast or slow notes to be played, or the chord sequences; of central importance are also the complexity of the piece's composition, its rhythmic complexities, the difficulty of reading the text for the first time, and last but not least, how easy or difficult it is to understand its musical structure. I have defined "piece" as being the musical unit of a sonata, or a single piece in a cycle, which is why Bach's "Well-Tempered Clavier" Part I comprises a total of 48 levels of difficulty (each prelude and fugue is considered separately), Schumann's Sonata in f sharp minor op.11 only has a single number. My assessment is measured by the ability to prepare a piece for performance.
While assessing the pieces, it became clear that the medium level of difficulty (4–6) is the trickiest. Now and again this means that a piece is judged as a "3/4", even if it only deserved a "3" as far as piano technique is concerned. An example of such a "borderline" case (easy/medium) is Schumann's "Scenes from Childhood" op. 15 Von fremden Ländern und Menschen or at the other end "6/7" part of Bach's "English Suites". And of course within a main category there are also "from-to" evaluations (e.g. 7/8).
Any evaluation of art or music will always be subjective, even if the aim was to be objective. Despite the fact that I have endeavoured to be as careful as possible, I am all too aware that the results of my work can be called into question, and am therefore grateful for any suggestions you might have.
Prof. Rolf Koenen © 2010