Invention (music)

In music, an invention is a short composition

Form

Inventions are similar in style to a fugue, though much, much simpler. They consist of a short exposition, a longer development, and a short recapitulation (if there is one at all).

Related Topics:
Fugue - Exposition - Development - Recapitulation

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Exposition

In the exposition, a short motif is introduced by one voice in the tonic key. This is called the theme. The subject is then repeated in the second voice in the dominant key while the initial voice either plays a countersubject or plays in free counterpoint.

Related Topics:
Motif - Tonic key - Dominant key - Countersubject - Free counterpoint

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Development

The development comprises the bulk of the piece. Here the composer usually writes in free counterpoint and develops the subject by writing variations either melodically or harmonically.

Related Topics:
Variation - Melodically - Harmonically

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Some melodic variations consist of:

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• Augmentation - Playing the subject at a longer time value.
• Diminution - Playing the subject at a shorter time value.
• Inversion - Playing a melody upside-down.
• Retrograde - Playing a melody backwards.

The development of an invention differs from that of a fugue in that a fugal development contains episodes (variations based more strictly on the theme) whereas the invention is more free-form.

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Recapitulation

If an invention does have any recapitulation at all, it tends to be extremely short - sometimes only two or four measures. The composer repeats the theme in the upper voice and the piece ends. The repetition of the theme contains very little variation (or no variation at all) on the original theme. The lower line usually plays the countersubject, and if there is no countersubject, plays in free counterpoint.

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