Topmusicanswers
What is Bach's invention?
As far as Bach was concerned, an invention is a short exercise written for private practice by keyboard students – which has a two-part counterpoint. Compositions in the same style as an invention but using three-part counterpoint are known as sinfonias.
Are Bach's inventions fugues?
Bach's inventions were simpler than the fugues he composed for collections like The Well-Tempered Clavier. Most were two-part inventions, where two voices play in contrapuntal harmony. Bach also composed three-part inventions, which he referred to as sinfonias.
