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Haydn, Franz Joseph : Sonate für Klavier Nr.42 Mov.2 Menuet

Work Overview

Music ID : 32204
Instrumentation:Piano Solo 
Genre:sonata
Total Playing Time:5 min 00 sec
Copyright:Public Domain

Commentary (2)

Author : Satake, Natsuki

Last Updated: February 28, 2022
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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.

G major (trio in G minor). 3/4 time. Both the minuet and the trio have an A-B-A' structure. The contrast between the minuet's lightness and the trio's mournful atmosphere is striking. The simple yet playful harmony is also an appealing feature of this piece.

Writer: Satake, Natsuki

Author : Ooi, Kazurou

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

It can be imagined as an opera aria or a string ensemble. While the tempo varies among performers, a lively and light performance is desirable; setting the tempo too slow will make it sound heavy. One point to be careful about is the treatment of non-harmonic tones that frequently appear in the melody line. Many non-harmonic tones appear, such as the passing tone in m. 4, suspensions in mm. 14, 16, and 18, and appoggiaturas in mm. 18, 19, and 20. Therefore, avoid accentuating the "resolution notes" that follow them. In piano performance, one issue that can create an unpleasant sound is the repetition of the "same note." When the same note is repeated, it tends to sound harsh. For example, when moving from the E in the melody line on the off-beat of beat 1 in m. 19 to the E on beat 2, avoid playing these two identical notes at the same volume. Alternatively, vary their note values. In this case, by playing the E on the off-beat of beat 1 softer than the E on the downbeat of beat 2, and further shortening the E on the off-beat of beat 1, you can avoid an unpleasant repetition of notes. The same applies to m. 20. Furthermore, since the note on the downbeat of beat 1 is a non-harmonic tone, it is logical to play the subsequent resolution note on the off-beat softer. These small adjustments will transform the performance.

Writer: Ooi, Kazurou