Les Violons du Roy at École des Ursulines

“Forthright instruction, wherewith lovers of the clavier, especially those desirous of learning, are shown in a clear way not only 1) to learn to play two voices clearly, but also after further progress 2) to deal correctly and well with three obbligato parts, moreover at the same time to obtain not only good ideas, but also to carry them out well, but most of all to achieve a cantabile style of playing, and thereby to acquire a strong foretaste of composition.” This long subheading to Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Inventions” makes it clear that he wrote these pieces with pedagogical intent. Two musicians from Violons du Roy decided to have fun with these clavier pieces, choosing to play one melodic line each without changing the register or the notes.

The resulting music is delightful, especially since this “deconstructed” method highlights the educational character of the piece and the genius of its simplicity.