Introduction

Although Bach inventions may look rather simple, they offer excellent examples of counterpoint techniques. In this article we will analyze the C Major Invention BWV772.

The invention is based on this theme or subject:

We first hear the subject in the upper voice (1). The lower voice then imitates the subject one octave lower (2). The second measure is a repetition of the first measure but one fifth higher (3)

We will refer to these first measures as the exposition.