The 15 Two-part Inventions, BWV 722-786, and 15 Three-part Inventions, BWV787-801, the latter also known as Sinfonias, have their origins in the "Clavierbüchlein vor Wilhelm Friedemann Bach" which was started in 1720. In 1723, during his tenure as Kapellmeister in Cöthen, Bach made a fair copy of the two definitive sets, a beautifully written manuscript which is the basis for all modern editions. The fair copy bears this hand-written introduction in typical Bach style :

HONEST METHOD
by which the amateurs of the clavichord - especially, however, those desirous of learning - are shown a clear way not only (1) to learn to play cleanly in two parts, but also, after further progress, (2) to handle three obligato parts correctly and well; and along with this not only to obtain good inventions (ideas), but to develop the same well; above all however, to achieve a cantabile style in playing and at the same time acquire a strong foretaste of composition.

From this, we can think it possible that Bach, while being well aware of the Inventions' many didactical qualities, originally intended them as a guide to extempore playing.

Another interesting issue is how they are numbered. Bach often numbered series of compositions in chromatic key order, starting at C major, and this is also the case with the two series of Inventions. Before the tempered tuning of instruments, the 24 keys existed in theory, but only 15 keys (C major, C minor, D major, D minor, E-flat major, E major, E minor, F major, F minor, G major, G minor, A major, A minor, B-flat major and B minor) were actually used in practice, and that is why both sets contain 15 pieces.

In the order above, it is obvious that the famous eight Invention should be in F major, which is indeed the key in which we know and love it. However, two different manuscript reproductions exist for this invention, using different numbering (see the manuscript page. The manuscript numbered as 8 was reproduced by Louis Spohr (1784 - 1859) while a manuscript reproduced by Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (J. S. Bach's oldest son and second child) is numbered as Invention number 4. Could Wilhelm Friedemann have made a simple mistake, or was the original numbering not in chromatic order? We may never know...

In any case, there are few works in keyboard literature which so gloriously blend didactical and musical qualities.

15 Two-part Inventions, BWV 772-786 (1723) Complete recording by Robert Ståhlbrand
Recorded in 2007
1	BWV 772	Invention No.1 in C major	1:03
2	BWV 773	Invention No.2 in C minor	2:23
3	BWV 774	Invention No.3 in D major	1:39
4	BWV 775	Invention No.4 in D minor	0:52
5	BWV 776	Invention No.5 in E-flat major	2:21
6	BWV 777	Invention No.6 in E major	4:37
7	BWV 778	Invention No.7 in E minor	1:59
8	BWV 779	Invention No.8 in F major	1:00
9	BWV 780	Invention No.9 in F minor	2:05
10	BWV 781	Invention No.10 in G major	1:05
11	BWV 782	Invention No.11 in G minor	1:29
12	BWV 783	Invention No.12 in A major	1:43
13	BWV 784	Invention No.13 in A minor	1:20
14	BWV 785	Invention No.14 in B-flat major	1:47
15	BWV 786	Invention No.15 in B minor	1:36

15 Two-part Inventions, BWV 772-786 (1723) Complete recording by Chris Breemer
Recorded jan/feb 2008
1	BWV 772	Invention No. 1 in C major	1:02
2	BWV 773	Invention No. 2 in C minor	1:43
3	BWV 774	Invention No. 3 in D major	1:34
4	BWV 775	Invention No. 4 in D minor	0:51
5	BWV 776	Invention No. 5 in E flat major	1:37
6	BWV 777	Invention No. 6 in E major	3:23
7	BWV 778	Invention No. 7 in E minor	1:09
8	BWV 779	Invention No. 8 in F major	0:49
9	BWV 780	Invention No. 9 in F minor	1:21
10	BWV 781	Invention No. 10 in G major	1:05
11	BWV 782	Invention No. 11 in G minor	1:03
12	BWV 783	Invention No. 12 in A major	1:36
13	BWV 784	Invention No. 13 in A minor	1:17
14	BWV 785	Invention No. 14 in B flat major	1:15
15	BWV 786	Invention No. 15 in B minor	0:59

15 Two-part Inventions, BWV 772-786 (1723) Complete recording by Joe Renouf
Recorded in 2009/2009
1	BWV 772	Invention No. 1 in C major	1:29
2	BWV 773	Invention No. 2 in C minor	2:28
3	BWV 774	Invention No. 3 in D major	1:26
4	BWV 775	Invention No. 4 in D minor	1:02
5	BWV 776	Invention No. 5 in E flat major	1:52
6	BWV 777	Invention No. 6 in E major	3:20
7	BWV 778	Invention No. 7 in E minor	1:55
8	BWV 779	Invention No. 8 in F major	1:12
9	BWV 780	Invention No. 9 in F minor	2:06
10	BWV 781	Invention No. 10 in G major	1:21
11	BWV 782	Invention No. 11 in G minor	2:03
12	BWV 783	Invention No. 12 in A major	1:42
13	BWV 784	Invention No. 13 in A minor	1:24
14	BWV 785	Invention No. 14 in B flat major	1:48
15	BWV 786	Invention No. 15 in B minor	1:31

15 Two-part Inventions, BWV 772-786 (1723) Various artists
1	BWV 772	Invention No.1 in C major	1:49	Bertram, J.
1	BWV 772	Invention No.1 in C major	1:18	Bronner, F.
1	BWV 772	Invention No.1 in C major	1:01	Hammer, T.
1	BWV 772	Invention No.1 in C major	1:21	Pfaul, A.
2	BWV 773	Invention No.2 in C minor	5:26	Bertram, J.
2	BWV 773	Invention No.2 in C minor	1:44	Hammer, T.
2	BWV 773	Invention No.2 in C minor	1:57	McCarthy, M.
3	BWV 774	Invention No.3 in D major	2:10	Bertram, J.
4	BWV 775	Invention No.4 in D minor	1:02	Bertram, J.
4	BWV 775	Invention No.4 in D minor	1:02	Bronner, F.
4	BWV 775	Invention No.4 in D minor	0:57	Pfaul, A.
8	BWV 779	Invention No.8 in F major	1:05	Assimakopoulos, P.
8	BWV 779	Invention No.8 in F major	1:03	Hart, E.
8	BWV 779	Invention No.8 in F major	0:54	McCarthy, M.
13	BWV 784	Invention No.13 in A minor	1:11	Alianello, M.
13	BWV 784	Invention No.13 in A minor	0:56	Cameron, J.
13	BWV 784	Invention No.13 in A minor	1:23	Silva, M da
14	BWV 785	Invention No.14 in B flat major	1:06	Silva, M da
15	BWV 786	Invention No.15 in B minor	1:03	Bronner, F.
15	BWV 786	Invention No.15 in B minor	1:24	Chetty, S.

15 Three-part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787-801 (1723) Complete recording by Gregorio Szames
Recorded in 2007
1	BWV 787	Sinfonia No. 1 in C major	0:52
2	BWV 788	Sinfonia No. 2 in C minor	2:28
3	BWV 789	Sinfonia No. 3 in D major Buy this recording	1:07
4	BWV 790	Sinfonia No. 4 in D minor	3:01
5	BWV 791	Sinfonia No. 5 in E-flat major	2:57
6	BWV 792	Sinfonia No. 6 in E major	0:55
7	BWV 793	Sinfonia No. 7 in E minor	1:31
8	BWV 794	Sinfonia No. 8 in F major	1:05
9	BWV 795	Sinfonia No. 9 in F minor	4:18
10	BWV 796	Sinfonia No.10 in G major	0:59
11	BWV 797	Sinfonia No.11 in G minor	2:19
12	BWV 798	Sinfonia No.12 in A major	1:24
13	BWV 799	Sinfonia No.13 in A minor	1:31
14	BWV 800	Sinfonia No.14 in B-flat major	1:11
15	BWV 801	Sinfonia No.15 in B minor	1:26

15 Three-part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787-801 (1723) Complete recording by Randolph Hokanson
1	BWV 787	Sinfonia No. 1 in C major	1:16
2	BWV 788	Sinfonia No. 2 in C minor	1:50
3	BWV 789	Sinfonia No. 3 in D major	1:12
4	BWV 790	Sinfonia No. 4 in D minor	1:56
5	BWV 791	Sinfonia No. 5 in E-flat major	2:26
6	BWV 792	Sinfonia No. 6 in E major	1:32
7	BWV 793	Sinfonia No. 7 in E minor	2:17
8	BWV 794	Sinfonia No. 8 in F major	1:11
9	BWV 795	Sinfonia No. 9 in F minor	3:14
10	BWV 796	Sinfonia No.10 in G major	1:02
11	BWV 797	Sinfonia No.11 in G minor	1:34
12	BWV 798	Sinfonia No.12 in A major	1:25
13	BWV 799	Sinfonia No.13 in A minor	1:36
14	BWV 800	Sinfonia No.14 in B-flat major	2:07
15	BWV 801	Sinfonia No.15 in B minor	1:31

15 Three-part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787-801 (1723) Complete recording by Chris Breemer
Recorded march, 2008
1	BWV 787	Sinfonia No. 1 in C major	1:04
2	BWV 788	Sinfonia No. 2 in C minor	2:04
3	BWV 789	Sinfonia No. 3 in D major	1:15
4	BWV 790	Sinfonia No. 4 in D minor	1:42
5	BWV 791	Sinfonia No. 5 in E flat major	2:42
6	BWV 792	Sinfonia No. 6 in E major	1:11
7	BWV 793	Sinfonia No. 7 in E minor	2:29
8	BWV 794	Sinfonia No. 8 in F major	1:17
9	BWV 795	Sinfonia No. 9 in F minor	2:52
10	BWV 796	Sinfonia No. 10 in G major	1:15
11	BWV 797	Sinfonia No. 11 in G minor	1:37
12	BWV 798	Sinfonia No. 12 in A major	1:37
13	BWV 799	Sinfonia No. 13 in A minor	2:03
14	BWV 800	Sinfonia No. 14 in B flat major	1:40
15	BWV 801	Sinfonia No. 15 in B minor	1:27

15 Three-part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787-801 (1723) Complete recording by Joe Renouf
Recorded in 2008/2009
1	BWV 787	Sinfonia No. 1 in C major	2:02
2	BWV 788	Sinfonia No. 2 in C minor	2:05
3	BWV 789	Sinfonia No. 3 in D major	1:45
4	BWV 790	Sinfonia No. 4 in D minor	2:16
5	BWV 791	Sinfonia No. 5 in E flat major	1:25
6	BWV 792	Sinfonia No. 6 in E major	1:40
7	BWV 793	Sinfonia No. 7 in E minor	3:19
8	BWV 794	Sinfonia No. 8 in F major	1:14
9	BWV 795	Sinfonia No. 9 in F minor	3:25
10	BWV 796	Sinfonia No. 10 in G major	2:06
11	BWV 797	Sinfonia No. 11 in G minor	2:33
12	BWV 798	Sinfonia No. 12 in A major	1:38
13	BWV 799	Sinfonia No. 13 in A minor	2:40
14	BWV 800	Sinfonia No. 14 in B flat major	1:32
15	BWV 801	Sinfonia No. 15 in B minor	1:49

15 Three-part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787-801 (1723) Complete recording by Stan Winitsky
Recorded in 2009/2010
1	BWV 787	Sinfonia No. 1 in C major	1:16
2	BWV 788	Sinfonia No. 2 in C minor	2:33
3	BWV 789	Sinfonia No. 3 in D major	1:29
4	BWV 790	Sinfonia No. 4 in D minor	2:13
5	BWV 791	Sinfonia No. 5 in E flat major	2:35
6	BWV 792	Sinfonia No. 6 in E major	1:38
7	BWV 793	Sinfonia No. 7 in E minor	2:11
8	BWV 794	Sinfonia No. 8 in F major	1:16
9	BWV 795	Sinfonia No. 9 in F minor	3:22
10	BWV 796	Sinfonia No.10 in G major	1:25
11	BWV 797	Sinfonia No.11 in G minor	2:26
12	BWV 798	Sinfonia No.12 in A major	1:36
13	BWV 799	Sinfonia No.13 in A minor	1:58
14	BWV 800	Sinfonia No. 14 in B flat major	2:07
15	BWV 801	Sinfonia No. 15 in B minor	1:45

15 Three-part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787-801 (1723) Various artists
6	BWV 792	Sinfonia No. 6 in E major	1:35	Bertazzi, A.
6	BWV 792	Sinfonia No. 6 in E major	1:38	Winitsky, S.
7	BWV 793	Sinfonia No. 7 in E minor	2:07	McCarthy, M.
11	BWV 797	Sinfonia No.11 in G minor	3:22	Bertazzi, A.
11	BWV 797	Sinfonia No.11 in G minor	2:21	Chetty, S.
11	BWV 797	Sinfonia No.11 in G minor	2:33	Sarro, F.