J.S. Bach composed these Inventions in 1722/3for the instruction in keyboard playing & composition of his eldest son, Wilhelm Friedemann. In his preface to a fair copy of the works, the composer claimed: that they provide material with which players can learn'to play clearly in two parts'; that they show 'not only how to come by good ideas (inventiones), but also how to develop them well'; and that by practising them the musician can 'arrive at a cantabile style of playing, while also acquiring a strong foretaste for composition'.