Bach wrote the 2-part and 3-part Inventions for his pupils expressly as a preparation for his larger works, especially for the "Well-tempered Clavichord". They remain the best for this purpose even today, because few of the recent, easier piano pieces contain a left-hand part with such an independent treatment of the theme.
Bach himself wrote "A faithful guide, whereby admirers of the clavichord are shewn a plain method of learning, not only to play clean in two parts, but likewise to make further progress to manage three obbligato parts well and correctly, and at the same time not merely how to get good inventions (ideas), but also how to develop the same well; but above all, to obtain a cantabile style of playing, and together with this to get a strong foretaste of composition."
The 2-part Inventions were composed in Cothen in 1720.
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