Minuet in G Major -- Urtext

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This Minuet in G Major by composer Jeremiah Clarke is very typical of the English Baroque style.

It has a simple A-A-B-A musical form :

• Measures 1-8 : Phrase A (played twice) in the main key of G Major
• Measures 9-16 : Phrase B starting in G Major and modulating to the dominant key of D Major in measure 14
• Measures 1-8 : Phrase A played once again

Please take note that the editor has included in this score suggested realizations for the ornaments, in this case shakes (the English equivalent to a trill).

In particular, shakes are played ON the beat, starting with the upper auxiliary note.

We also suggest adding a backfall and shake to measures 8 and 16 in the right hand.

A backfall and shake is a trill in which the starting note is prolonged in order to create a beautiful dissonance effect.

Also, we have added a C# to the third beat of measure 15. The fact that it does not appear in the manuscript seems to be an error, as it is required for the perfect cadence in D Major.

In measures 2 and 6, we recommend playing the quarter notes as if they were double dotted, in order to make the short notes of the melody uniformly sixteenth notes.

In the same line of thought, the left hand eighth notes in measure 12 are to be played with the same rhythmic dotted pattern as the rest of the Minuet.

Furthermore, measure 16 bears the indication End with the first strain, meaning that the player should then repeat measures 1-8.

Duration : 01:00

Source : Jeremiah Clarke, Miscellaneous Pieces for the Harpsichord or Spinnet