Bach's 2-part and 3-part inventions: what are the parts?

Question

I learned to play some of  the 2-part inventions, and still enjoy playing them, but I didn't have a teacher so I never got to ask: "What the heck are the "parts?" 

Back then, I assumed it meant right and left hand, and that the 3-part inventions would be for organ and have a part for the feet, but when I hear the 3-part inventions it's always on piano, not organ. What, exactly, are the parts?

suhwahaksaeng · Accepted Answer

You are right about the two parts of the two-part inventions being for the left and right hands.
The third part of the three-part inventions is shared between the left and right hands.
If you look at the score, you will see that there are never more than three notes at a time.
That is because there are three contrapuntal voices.

Malcolm D · Answer

The title indicates the number of contrapuntal parts or voices.
See: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invention_(musical_composition)

? · Answer

Many writers have assumed that through an invention Bach meant the subject on the beginning up of a chunk - a fugue venture, say, or the opening ritornello in a concerto. Bach had his very own pupils artwork on coming up what he called "sturdy innovations."

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Bach's 2-part and 3-part inventions: what are the parts?

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