Harpsichord curriculum › Two-part inventions & ornamented dances
Invention in A major, BWV 783
form: two-part invention · skill: two independent hands, a cantabile manner, basic ornaments
Invention in A major, BWV 783
Johann Sebastian Bach · baroque · Two-part inventions & ornamented dances
Invention in A major, BWV 783 sets the two hands as genuinely independent voices — the cantabile, two-part-invention stage where the first ornaments are added. Bach wrote the two-part Inventions expressly to teach ‘a cantabile manner of playing and a strong foretaste of composition’ — two genuinely independent voices, with the first ornaments added.
Why this piece, and where it sits
J.S. Bach’s teaching order (Clavier-Büchlein, Inventions & Sinfonias title-page, Well-Tempered Clavier) — for the canonical beginner-to-advanced keyboard syllabus (skill: two independent hands, a cantabile manner, basic ornaments).
Confidence: ⚠ form-heuristic — graded by musical form (no pedal to read); a score-level pass will refine this.
Score (PDF): open / download the score — the site’s own copy, source on IMSLP.
Score
To import into forScore on iPad/iPhone: open the score, then tap Safari’s Share button → Copy to forScore. The score arrives tagged with its title, composer and genre.