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Home > Purcell, Henry > Minuet

Purcell, Henry : Minuet ZD 225

Work Overview

Music ID : 67180
Instrumentation:Piano Solo 
Genre:menuetto
Total Playing Time:0 min 30 sec
Copyright:Public Domain

Commentary (1)

Author : Ooi, Kazurou

Last Updated: May 30, 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.

Although the piece is in E minor, it modulates to G major and then returns to E minor. How the performer handles this contrast between E minor and G major significantly alters the interpretation of this piece.

For the author, E minor feels like a high-tension, severe key. For instance, the opening four measures, the E minor section, are played rather forte, while the G major section from measures 5 to 8 is played with a soft sound, changing the color. Since G major continues for measures 9 to 12, the sound quality remains soft, but as the D-sharp in measure 12 becomes the leading tone of E minor, the playing should lead towards this D-sharp. Then, as E minor returns for measures 13 to 16, the forte dynamic should be resumed, returning to the opening atmosphere.

In the G major section, further changes in color can be achieved by lengthening the trill in measure 7 and playing the ornaments in measure 10 lightly. In the E minor section, it may be effective to play with a sense of dignity rather than merely as a minuet (dance). The final two measures may be played with a slight tempo reduction.

Writer: Ooi, Kazurou

Sheet Music

Scores List (2)