Minuet in F Major, HWV 516a

Menuet

This bright Minuet in F Major was composed by George Frideric Handel around the years 1705 to 1710.

It is actually a keyboard version of the fifth and last movement of the Sonata for Flute and Figured Bass in G Major, Op. 1, No. 5, HWV 363b, and of the Sonata for Oboe and Figured Bass in F Major, HWV 363a, from which the Sonata for Flute HWV 363b was itself derived.

This Minuet HWV 516a is appropriate for Grade 3 piano or harpsichord students.

This minuet is a beautiful example of the style galant.

This style galant (or gallant style) was associated mainly with French music and was characterized by a return to classical simplicity after the complexity of the late Baroque era.

Pieces in the style galant therefore feature graceful melodies (with less ornamentation), and simpler musical phrases.

Please note that this sheet music contains suggestions for playing the ornaments (here : trills) in accordance with the performance practice of the Baroque period.

In particular, trills are played ON the beat, starting on the upper auxiliary note.

Also, we suggest adding cadential trills in measures 7, 15 and 23, as was typically done during the Baroque period.

Furthermore, the trills in measures 1, 2 and 5 appear in the original source, that is Handel's Sonata for Oboe and Figured Bass in F Major, HWV 363a.

Duration : 01:08

Source : George Frideric Handel, Miscellaneous Movements & Dances for Keyboard, HWV 457-586