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Haydn, Franz Joseph : Sonate für Klavier Nr.41 Mov.2 Menuet al Rovescio

Work Overview

Music ID : 32201
Instrumentation:Piano Solo 
Genre:sonata
Total Playing Time:2 min 00 sec
Copyright:Public Domain

Commentary (2)

Author : Ooi, Kazurou

Last Updated: March 5, 2025
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Note: This article is automatically translated from the original Japanese text. The author of the original work did not supervise this translation.

At first glance, this appears to be an ordinary minuet, but it is one where Haydn's mischievousness, or rather, his playfulness, is evident. First, try playing only the melody line from measures 1 to 10. Next, similarly play only the melody from measures 11 to 20, but instead of starting from measure 11, play it in reverse, from measure 20, then 19, 18, 17, and so on. You will then discover that it matches the melody from measures 1 to 10.

Similarly, play measures 21 to 32 of the Trio, and then, as before, play measures 33 to 44 in reverse, starting from measure 44, then 43, 42, and so on. You will find that it is the melody from measures 21 to 32. This is a technique called retrograde, and composers like Bach also wrote such puzzle-like pieces. Therefore, with a playful spirit, wondering how many people will notice it, try playing it lightly and enjoyably.

Writer: Ooi, Kazurou

Author : Saitoh, Noriko

Last Updated: February 9, 2020
[Open]
Note: This article is automatically translated from the original Japanese text. The author of the original work did not supervise this translation.

The second movement is not included in the autograph manuscript and is written as a Minuet al Rovescio in A major, the same key as the first movement. It is a very concise movement, totaling 44 measures, and the note values primarily consist only of quarter notes and dotted half notes.

Writer: Saitoh, Noriko