Minuet WoO 10, No. 2 (Beethoven)

Ludwig van Beethoven's Minuet in G major, WoO 10, No. 2 is a composition originally written for orchestra, but was lost and only an arrangement for piano could be found. It has become very popular.

Structure

The minuet is in ternary form. In terms of A-B-A sections, the three parts are:

1. Moderato
2. Trio
3. Moderato

The Moderato section features a legato melody repeated once. This is the main theme of the piece. A slightly varied reiteration of this theme follows a four-measure section. Quarter notes occupy most of the left hand in this section.

The trio section features non-stop eighth notes in the right hand and, once again, quarter notes in the left hand. It starts with an eight-measure passage repeated once and moves on to another eight-measure passage that is also repeated once. This passage contains four harmonious measures that are followed by a varied reiteration of the theme in the trio part (which is played in the first eight-measure passage).

The last section, which is Moderato also, is just the first section repeated.

In popular culture

In The Music Man, the children of River City learn the Minuet in G via the "Think Method" taught by Professor Harold Hill. It was also the inspiration for the theme of the British sitcom Fawlty Towers.

External links

• Minuet orchestral performance by the Philadelphia Orchestra
• Minuet free scores at IMSLP