Product Description
During the Baroque period, the term sinfonia was broadly used for various instrumental forms, often as introductory pieces in larger works like operas, oratorios, and cantatas. However, Bachs Sinfonias were conceived as didactic pieces, designed to teach keyboard students the art of playing and composing in three independent voices- a core aspect of Baroque counterpoint.
Bach composed these works for his son Wilhelm Friedemann and his other students, intending them to develop clarity, expressive playing, and compositional skill. This educational purpose reflects the Baroque emphasis on thorough musical training and mastery of counterpoint, which was considered essential for any serious musician.
Additionally, the flexibility of instrumentation in Baroque keyboard music, where composers often did not specify exact instruments, allowed these works to be accessible to various performers, further supporting their pedagogical role. The Sinfonias thus emerged from a context where keyboard instruction, contrapuntal technique, and practical musicianship were highly valued, and where the boundaries between genres like sinfonia, invention, and suite were fluid and evolving.
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.