Minuetto

Italian era

Definition

A minuet; a graceful triple-metre dance movement in moderate tempo. In the Classical keyboard repertoire, the minuet appears as a standalone character piece, a middle movement within a sonata, or as a final movement — sometimes with trio or variations.

Interpretive Guidance

Keep the minuet graceful and dance-like. Feel the bar as a single unit rather than three separate beats. Ornaments on repeated sections should feel spontaneous, not mechanical.

Context

Scope Classical era term
Era Classical
Language Italian

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