Minuets in general range from extemporized (social dance) to intricately choreographed (performance). Other variants. Dancers may perform several variants of the pas de menuet within one dance, whether through improvisation or choreography.The underscore represents a sink (bend) without a change of leg. I label it “R_LRL_”, where each letter represents a change of weight to that leg. The most common variant involves four steps in six counts. Since minuets are composed in 3/4 meter, the pas de menuet lasts for six counts (quarter notes). The pas de menuet is the basic step unit , and it is repeated every two bars. For example, the two defining features of the eighteenth-century minuet were the basic step ( pas de menuet) and the figures. INSTRUCTOR provides some information about the dance, if necessary.NOTE: The translation of aural (musical) information into visual ones (annotations) in the video prepares the student to move from music-only analysis to the analysis of music-dance (choreomusical) relationships and, more generally, audio-visual relationships.IN THIS STEP, students simply place musical information (acquired through traditional analysis) onto an audiovisual text.STUDENTS then download the video and annotate it (using a video editor of their choice) with elements of their music analyses.After class, move on to Steps 2, 3, and 4. Some class time may be spent discussing the analyses and coming to a rough consensus about the details. Timing: Students bring in their music analyses to class on Thursday. NOTE: This step is the emphasis of traditional music-analytical exercises, even when the music is intimately associated with a dance.IN THIS STEP, students perform music analyses only.

The analysis may include the identification of phrase and period types, cadences, harmonic progressions, and other notable details (such as the cadential hemiola at mm.STUDENTS perform a musical analysis of the piece (harmony and form), annotating the score by hand.Handel’s, The Water Music, Minuet in G minor After providing instruction in musical form and diatonic harmony, INSTRUCTOR provides the musical score.Timing: Assign music analysis on (for example) the Tuesday meeting of a course that meets Tues/Thurs each week. This is a sample lesson plan for instructors who wish to incorporate dance into a basic exercise in harmonic and formal analysis. A Guide for Integrating Dance into a Traditional Music-Analysis Exercise

Minuet form