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4.6.1: Minuet and Trio Form ("Ternary" form)

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    165593
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    Minuet and Trio Form: The Third Movement of a Symphony and String Quartet

    The third movement of a 4-movement cycle like a Symphony or String Quartet is known as the "dance" movement. That's because a minuet and trio are both two different stylized dances that were popular in the 1600s. Both dances are similar in style, speed, and meter. They both have 3 beats per measure (like a waltz), and so early symphonic composers like Johann Stamitz would often pair the two dances together. Thus, "minuet and trio" form was created!

    The form of a minuet and trio is quite simple, and the video here will explain how it's organized. You'll listen to the 3rd movement of his Symphony no. 102.

    Each dance (the minuet and the trio) are organized in 2 parts. Because of this, we call them binary form.

    After the minuet is done, the players immediately play the trio. Once the trio is done, the music goes back to the beginning and repeats the minuet!

    In other words, the form looks like this: MINUET TRIO MINUET

    If we were to assign a letter to each of these dances, the form would like this: A B A

    This ABA form is referred to as ternary form, and is a popular form in instrumental music.

    Although each dance is in the same key, tempo, and speed, the composer will likely treat them differently through the use of instrumentation. As you listen to the Haydn example in the video, pay close attention as to how the minuet is different from the trio.

    When you're done with the video, move on to the next page where we discuss rondo form.


    4.6.1: Minuet and Trio Form ("Ternary" form) is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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