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Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, third movement - EdexcelThe minuet

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed Eine Kleine Nachtmusik in 1787 during the Classical period. It has typical music features from this time, including the minuet and trio form.

Part of MusicInstrumental music 1700 to 1820

The minuet

Section A

The main theme of the minuet featuring聽appoggiatura.
Figure caption,
The first subject of Section A - it includes ornaments, such as the appogiatura

Texture

The music starts with a two part texture, where the violins play the melody and the viola and cello accompany. The violins play in octaves until bar 6 where they go into thirds and sixths. The texture progresses and becomes mostly .

Melody and dynamics

There is use of ornamentation with an in bar 4 and in bars 6 and 7. The melody consists of both and movement and there is a descending in bars 6 and 7. There is on the viola at the end of the section. This means two notes are played at the same time.

The dynamics are forte throughout section A.

Harmony and tonality

The section starts in G major and uses a mix of root position and first inversion chords throughout. The chords change nearly every beat and there is use of the dominant 7th (V7) chord. The section ends on a (V7 - I).

Section B

The theme聽B from the minuet聽showing dominant 7th chords.
Figure caption,
The subject in Section B is much more flowing due to the quaver rhythms

Dynamics

The section starts with piano to contrast with section A but goes back to forte at bar 12.

Texture

The texture is thinner using with two parts. There is contrary motion between the violins and cello at bar 13. The texture changes to four-part harmony for the cadence at the end of the section.

Melody

The melody is much more conjunct than section A, with a fluid quaver movement and has a two- bar descending sequence. The trills from section A return at bar 14 and the end of the section is a repeat of the end of section A.

Harmony and tonality

The section starts in E minor - the relative minor - and moves through D minor, ending back at the tonic - G major for the end of the section. The section ends on a (V7 - I).

The final phrase of the last repeat of the minuet ends with a strong perfect cadence