Bach 2 Part Invention in D minor
Encyclopedia
Bach 2 Part Invention in D minor is a jazz
adaptation by Gordon Goodwin
of J. S. Bach
's 2-part invention in D minor, originally published in Inventions and Sinfonias (BWV 772-801)
. Goodwin has taken Bach's keyboard invention and adapted it in big band
jazz
style for his "Big Phat Band". It is recorded on his Swingin' For The Fences
album.
As with all 2 Part Inventions, there are two distinct melodies being played simultaneously, and a challenge to the performers is to maintain the clarity of those two main parts for the listener, whilst adding the texture of the big-band sound. The piece is also challenging because of the style, having neither a straight rhythm
, nor a swing rhythm
. For that reason the piece has been compared to Latin jazz
which is similarly neither straight nor swing, although this piece has a smoothness of style, as opposed to the more accented and sharper rhythms of Latin jazz.
On the Swingin' For The Fences album, the soloists are Eddie Daniels
on clarinet
, Tim Cox on piano
, and Bernie Dresel on drum
s.
In the audio commentary of the album, Goodwin describes the "Bach 2 Part Invention in D minor" as his favorite and best-composed track.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
adaptation by Gordon Goodwin
Gordon Goodwin
Gordon L. Goodwin is a Grammy award-winning American studio pianist, saxophonist, composer, arranger and conductor. He now lives in Southern California with his wife Lisa, daughter Madison and two sons, Trevor and Garrison.- Early years :...
of J. S. Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
's 2-part invention in D minor, originally published in Inventions and Sinfonias (BWV 772-801)
Inventions and Sinfonias (J. S. Bach)
The Inventions and Sinfonias, BWV 772–801, also known as the Two and Three Part Inventions, are a collection of thirty short keyboard compositions composed by Johann Sebastian Bach , consisting of fifteen inventions and fifteen sinfonias...
. Goodwin has taken Bach's keyboard invention and adapted it in big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
style for his "Big Phat Band". It is recorded on his Swingin' For The Fences
Swingin' For The Fences
Swingin' For The Fences was the first album by the supergroup Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band. Released in 2001, the album quickly became one of the most popular jazz albums of the last 20 years. The album features many acclaimed players and soloists...
album.
As with all 2 Part Inventions, there are two distinct melodies being played simultaneously, and a challenge to the performers is to maintain the clarity of those two main parts for the listener, whilst adding the texture of the big-band sound. The piece is also challenging because of the style, having neither a straight rhythm
Rhythm
Rhythm may be generally defined as a "movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions." This general meaning of regular recurrence or pattern in time may be applied to a wide variety of cyclical natural phenomena having a periodicity or...
, nor a swing rhythm
Swing (genre)
Swing music, also known as swing jazz or simply swing, is a form of jazz music that developed in the early 1930s and became a distinctive style by 1935 in the United States...
. For that reason the piece has been compared to Latin jazz
Latin jazz
Latin jazz is the general term given to jazz with Latin American rhythms.The three main categories of Latin Jazz are Brazilian, Cuban and Puerto Rican:# Brazilian Latin Jazz includes bossa nova...
which is similarly neither straight nor swing, although this piece has a smoothness of style, as opposed to the more accented and sharper rhythms of Latin jazz.
On the Swingin' For The Fences album, the soloists are Eddie Daniels
Eddie Daniels
Eddie Daniels is an American musician. Though he is best known as a jazz clarinet player, he has also played alto and tenor saxophones, as well as classical music on the clarinet....
on clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, Tim Cox on piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, and Bernie Dresel on drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s.
In the audio commentary of the album, Goodwin describes the "Bach 2 Part Invention in D minor" as his favorite and best-composed track.