31 Days of Classical, Day 2: a fascinating 46 seconds

Each day throughout July, I'll share with you a piece of classical music. Thirty-one days, thirty-one pieces.

The list is by no means definitive, nor is it necessarily a list of all of my favorite music from the classical world. Every morning, I start my day with music that inspires me in some way, whether I'm inspired by its happiness, its loneliness, the instrumentation, the harmony, the colors, the melody -- each piece is special in some way -- and offers an opportunity to either hear something you've never heard, or hear something new in a piece you've known your whole life.

Day 2: Johann Sebastian Bach: Invention No. 10 in G major

Colloquially called "The G major Invention", this is one of the most fascinating 46 seconds of music. The two hands are almost always moving in opposite directions, and I love how Bach "tricks" us at the very end with something called a "deceptive cadence" (fancy term for making the listener think the piece will end when it doesn't). Bach wrote these for his sons to learn to play keyboard. High expectations, you think? Although, it would've sounded a bit more like this in the early 1700s.

Take the 31 Days of Classical Challenge

31 Days is a bite-sized month-long trial of Classical Music from across the spectrum of the wonderful, expansive music we love at Classical MPR. Join the fun by subscribing to the 31 Days of Classical newsletter, or use #31DaysofClassical on Twitter or Facebook.

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