Sonata in G, Hob. XVI:27: II. Menuetto
The Menuetto of Haydn's Sonata in G major, Hob. XVI:27, is a minuet and trio in 3/4, Octotune grade 5 of 8: flowing triplets in G major, then a darker trio in G minor, then the minuet again.
At a glance
| Composer | Joseph Haydn (1732–1809) |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Intermediate: grade 5 of 8 |
| Key | Key signature: 1 sharp (F♯) |
| Time | 3/4 |
| Tempo | 92 quarter-note beats a minute, as the app starts it (it can go slower) |
| Length | 66 measures, about 2:09 |
| Hands | both hands |
| Right hand | B3 to D6 |
| Left hand | D2 to C5 |
It reaches past the staff: see ledger lines explained.
Levels in the app
| Version | Grade | Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Sonata in G, Hob. XVI:27: II. Menuetto | 5 of 8 | Melody, Melody and bass, Full |
Practice notes
The middle movement of one of Joseph Haydn's sonatas in G major, from the 1770s. It is a minuet with a trio: a graceful dance, a contrasting middle section, then the dance again. Octotune has all three movements of the sonata.
How it is built. The minuet opens on a D, then the right hand flows down in triplets, three notes to a beat: G D B, D B G, curling down to the D above middle C. The left hand steps along in quarter notes. The trio changes key signature to two flats, G minor, for a shadowed contrast, before the minuet returns in G major.
The tricky parts
- Triplets. Three even notes to every beat. Count "1-trip-let 2-trip-let 3-trip-let".
- Triplets against plain rhythms. Some beats have triplets, others eighths or dotted rhythms. Shift cleanly between them.
- The trio's flats and accidentals. B flat, E flat, and F sharp as G minor's leading note, plus others.
- Ornaments. Octotune plays the short turns and trills but doesn't wait for them; learn the line first.
Practice plan
- The minuet first: hands separately in Wait for me, then together.
- The trio on its own, slowly, naming the flats as you go.
- Both hands at 50% speed with Loop this measure, then Play along with a light first beat.
The whole sonata: the Allegro con brio and the Presto.
Before you start: Octotune's path through Unit 10, which teaches F sharp and B flat. The trio's other accidentals go beyond it.
Questions
Is the Menuetto of Haydn's Hob. XVI:27 hard?
It is an early-intermediate piece, Octotune grade 5 of 8. Its right hand flows in triplets, and the trio in G minor brings two flats and many accidentals.
Credits and license
- Music: Joseph Haydn (1732–1809)
- Typeset by Bas Wassink for the Mutopia Project
- License: Public Domain
- Source and printable sheet music: the Mutopia Project’s page for this piece