A C tied across three bars would have decayed to nothing on a harpsichord, which is why the trill is there in the first place. See how an exaggerated wrist rotation keeps the hand relaxed through a trill that long — and why finishing it early clears the note for what follows.
While Bach's 15 Two-Part Inventions were composed with the larger purpose of providing intellectual and spiritual nourishment, they're practically speaking studies in physical coordination – obstacle courses intended to help you gain self-mastery over complex physical tasks. Invention No. 4 in D minor, BWV 775 is a prime example, posing a series of challenges to the player, including fingering puzzles, awkward leaps, extended trills in both hands, alternating stepwise and arpeggiated motion, legato and staccato articulations, and hemiola. In this lesson, Magdalena Stern-Baczewska will serve as your personal trainer, ready to help you surmount each obstacle in turn while applying the style and nuance this dramatic work demands.
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