Gounod’s Menuet

Here is a classical minuet form, but with a rich, romantic era texture. There are a lot of dynamic contrasts, a nice mixture of staccato and legato, and chordal as well as polyphonic textures. Written in 3/4 time. The key is G minor, but there are excursions into B-flat major and other neighboring keys. The melodic duties are nicely divided between the pianists. This piece provides a beautiful recital performance opportunity as well as an enjoyable introduction into the minuet dance form.