Taught by renowned pianist
Magdalena Stern-Baczewska
One of the greatest milestones in a pianist's development is the progression from playing Bach's Two-Part Inventions to his Three-Part Inventions, also called "Sinfonias." The reason is rather simple: humans have two hands, not three, so the work of cultivating hand independence transforms into more granular finger independence. As a third voice travels between hands, the task of coordinating all three voices becomes significantly more challenging. In the Sinfonia No. 9 in F minor, BWV 795 – which Sir Andras Schiff calls the greatest of all the Inventions – Bach delivers a master class in three-voice polyphony.<br><br>As your instructor Magdalena Stern-Baczewska points out, most of the core devices used in Bach's fugues are already found here. She demonstrates the subtle physical movements that will allow you to balance two voices in the same hand while preserving the independent character of each motive. In doing so, she gives you the tools to realize the work's musical message, which is a profound one. Combining a descending lament, a sighing motive, and a jarring countersubject, Bach infuses this work with religious symbolism – culminating with the transformation from darkness to light in the final cadence.
Sinfonia in F minor, BWV 795
One of the greatest milestones in a pianist's development is the progression from playing Bach's Two-Part Inventions to his Three-Part Inventions, also called "Sinfonias." The reason is rather simple: humans have two hands, not three, so the work of cultivating hand independence transforms into more granular finger independence. As a third voice travels between hands, the task of coordinating all three voices becomes significantly more challenging. In the Sinfonia No. 9 in F minor, BWV 795 – which Sir Andras Schiff calls the greatest of all the Inventions – Bach delivers a master class in three-voice polyphony.
As your instructor Magdalena Stern-Baczewska points out, most of the core devices used in Bach's fugues are already found here. She demonstrates the subtle physical movements that will allow you to balance two voices in the same hand while preserving the independent character of each motive. In doing so, she gives you the tools to realize the work's musical message, which is a profound one. Combining a descending lament, a sighing motive, and a jarring countersubject, Bach infuses this work with religious symbolism – culminating with the transformation from darkness to light in the final cadence.
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Unlock Course →"Columbia University professor by day, musical sorceress by night,” Magdalena Stern-Baczewska leads a career of dizzying breadth and depth: performances with the world's leading orchestras; touring with Bach's Goldberg Variations on both piano and harpsichord; daring genre crossover projects; and best-selling albums of music for sleep based on the latest research.
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