Introduction[]
Leopold Mozart (1719-1787) most famous for being the father to Wolfgang has a collection (notebook) of short piano pieces composed to teach his young son. This menuet (minuet) comes from this collection.
Analysis[]
Leopold MOZART Menuet in D minor - Notebook for Wolfgang
Looking at this short piece many stereotypical “classical” music concepts are present. First the melody / phrases for the A section are divided into two measure chunks. The harmony for this section is very simple with the use of triads as well as functional harmonic progressions, with the final cadence of the section going i 6/4 –V – I.
The second section (mn. 13-20) begins as a menuet normal would in the relative major. Simple triads and the addition of an E-flat in mn. 14 to complete a seventh chord start a transition from F major back into the tonic key of d minor.
Comparison[]
Handel Menuet in G Major, HWV 450
I would like to compare the Leopold Mozart work to a Handel Menuet.
One of the most apparent differences comes in the B section of the piece (mn. 9 -22) The Handel menuet presents more linear writing in the left hand / accompaniment creating many parallel thirds.
Other comparisons are the more active A section in the Handel as opposed to the Mozart. Handel also rarely makes use of repeated notes unlike Leopold Mozart.
Though trivial, one other difference is the lack of a trill at the cadence point in the Handel work.
Observations[]
I decided on this piece due to the simplicity of its musical language yet still exemplifying the style of the period.
Works Cited[]
"Leopold MOZART : Menuet in D minor - Notebook for Wolfgang" YouTube video, 1:07. Posted by "sheetmusic2print," upload August 26, 2013. video.
"Handel : Menuet in G Major, HWV 450" YouTube video, 1:35. Posted by "sheetmusic2print," upload February 7, 2013. video.