What is Minuet in G (Beethoven)?
{{nosources|date=May 2013}} {{Listen |filename = Minuet in G (Beethoven), piano.ogg |title = Minuet in G (WoO 10, No. 2) |image = [[File:Beethoven 7.jpg|150px]] |description = Beethoven in 1818 }} [[File:FortepianoAntonWalter.JPG|thumb|Piano by Anton Walter, Vienna 1810]] The '''Minuet in G''', WoO 10, No. 2 is a piece of music for the [[piano]]. It was [[Composition (music)|composed]] by [[Ludwig van Beethoven]]. The piece was originally written for [[orchestra]]. This version was lost. Only an [[Arrangement (music)|arrangement]] for [[piano]] exists. It is a very [[popular]] piece, especially among beginning pianists. == Music == The piece is composed in what is called [[ternary form]] or ABA form. This means that the piece has three distinct sections. The first and the third sections (the A sections) are the same. The second section (the B section) is entirely different music. The B section often provides a contrast in some way to the A section. The [[tempo]] marking for the Minuet in G is [[Tempo#Basic Tempo Markings|Moderato]]. The meter is 3/4. The A section is composed of two 8 [[Measure (music)|bar]] passages for a total of 16 bars. The tune is characterized by a repetitious but elegant dotted eighth note and sixteenth note [[legato]] pattern. The first 8 bars are played and repeated. This passage begins in the [[Tonic (music)|tonic key]] of [[G major]], and [[Modulation (music)|modulates]] to the [[Dominant (music)|dominant key]] of [[D major]]. The second 8 bars are played and repeated. This passage begins in the dominant key of D major, and modulates to the tonic key of G major. The first phrase of this passage begins with 4 bars of principally quarter notes. The phrase returns to the dotted eighth note pattern at its close. Thus, the entire A section begins and ends in the [[tonic]] key with brushes on the dominant here and there. The right hand is occupied with playing mostly thirds and sixths through the A section. The left hand plays only quarter notes. Like the A sect