Six Sonatas, TWV 40:104 - Selected Movement

Six Sonatas, TWV 40:104 - Allegro

Master E minor tonality
Develop 3/8 time feel
Practice dance-like character

About This Piece

Composer: Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)

Difficulty: Early Intermediate

Notes Used: E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D, E (high), F# (high)

Time Signature: 3/8

Key: E Minor

Fingering Review

Full Movement (Simplified)

A lively dance-like movement in 3/8 time with a graceful E minor character.

Practice Tips

3/8 time: Feel in one - one beat per measure with a lilting quality
Allegro character: Fast and cheerful despite the minor key
Dance rhythm: Imagine this as a lively Baroque dance
Articulation: Light, bouncy tonguing to enhance the dance character

Practice Exercises

Practice the E natural minor scale.

Master the opening descending line.

Practice the ascending scale passage.

Feel the characteristic 3/8 pulse.

Put together the full opening section.

Historical Context

This Allegro in 3/8 time from TWV 40:104 demonstrates the influence of Baroque dance forms on instrumental music. The 3/8 meter was commonly used for quick dances like the gigue or certain types of minuets. E minor, while a minor key, retains a certain elegance and grace in Telemann's hands. The composer's ability to write memorable melodies in any key or meter is evident here. The relatively short phrases and clear harmonic structure make this an ideal piece for students learning to play in compound meter (3/8, 6/8, 9/8, etc.). The lilting quality of 3/8 time, when properly executed, gives the music a dance-like character that's both energetic and graceful.

Performance Goal: Capture the dance-like quality by feeling the music in one beat per measure (in 3/8). The music should flow with a graceful lilt while maintaining clarity and precision in the eighth note passages.

Next Steps

Once you can play this movement confidently, try:

Experimenting with subtle dynamic accents on beat one
Learning other pieces in 3/8 or 6/8 time
Comparing the character with E major pieces
Exploring Baroque dance forms (gigue, passepied)