Minuet
French dance in 3/4 time; movement of the suite, symphony and sonata.
What it means
The minuet is a French dance in triple time at a moderate tempo. The name is usually derived from French menu (small) and refers to the small steps. At the court of Louis XIV it was the most popular social dance. Jean-Baptiste Lully introduced it into his stage works, and from there it spread across Europe.
Musical use
In the baroque suite the minuet appears as a free, fashionable movement, usually after the sarabande. In the 18th century it became a fixed movement of the symphony, string quartet and sonata, usually as the third movement. The form consists of minuet, trio and a return of the minuet. In Haydn and Mozart it is often skilfully worked and far removed from the dance.
In Beethoven it is mostly replaced by the scherzo, which is faster and more robust. The minuet should also be distinguished from the gavotte and the waltz: the gavotte is in duple time, while the waltz is faster and turning.
Performance practice
Do not play the minuet too fast, for it remains a stately dance. Pay attention to the emphasis on the first beat and to an even, elegant phrasing; in the trio you often shift to a softer tone.