Recorder Sonata Op. 1 No. 4 — Minuet
- Play a Baroque minuet at dance tempo.
- Feel the 3/4 pulse as a dance — lifted, not heavy.
- Keep articulation light across the eighth-note motion.
About This Piece
Composer: Francesco Barsanti (1690–1772)
Difficulty: Early Intermediate
Notes Used: D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D (high)
Time Signature: 3/4
Key: C Major
Full Movement
A galant minuet in C major. The dance should feel lifted; the second beat is lighter than the first.
Practice Tips
- Tempo: Quarter = 110–120. Faster than a Handel minuet usually.
- Dance feel: Beat 1 down, beats 2 and 3 lifting. The dancer would step on 1.
- Articulation: Tongue every quarter; slur eighths in pairs.
Practice Exercises
Historical Context
The minuet was the most-published dance form of the eighteenth century; almost every Baroque and galant sonata contained one. Barsanti's example shows the form at its lightest — closer to a Classical minuet than to a heavy French Baroque one. The C major key keeps the fingerings simple, suited to early intermediate players.
Performance Goal: A dance, not a ceremony. The pulse should make a listener want to move.
Next Steps
- Try other minuets in the library — Bach Minuet, Mozart minuet variations.
- Apply the same dance-pulse to the Loeillet Bourrée from Lesson 51.