J.S. Bach's Two-Part Inventions is a collection of fifteen short keyboard works originally written as technical exercises for his students. They are contrapuntal pieces, (in this case) two voices of equal value but independent in contour and rhythm, unlike "vertical" pieces that employ melody, harmony, bass, etc. Brought forth in the Renaissance and culminating in the Baroque period, the contrapuntal style of writing served as a catalyst for rounds, canons, and ultimately fugues, of which Bach was an absolute master. Slawson has arranged three of these inventions as mallet duets, packaged here for extra value as a "three-pack." The two-part inventions included here are No 4 (D minor), No. 8 (F Major), and No. 13 (A minor). They can be performed separately, or in succession in the order presented in the folio. Performing duets can be one of the most rewarding settings for mallet players, and these arrangements will surely be an easy hit with performers and audiences alike. This piece comes with a full, bound score and includes a CD-Rom containing an audio recording and all individual parts available for printing. |
