The Minuet

The Minuet (spelled Menuet, Menuetto, etc)is a dance usually in triple time, which originated in France. It was popular in the 17th and 18th Century, when the slow minuet was in vogue. The dance took its name from the small steps and movements of the dance (incidentally, that is the meaning of the french root word menuet). One example of a minuet is the famous Boccherini's Minuet in A major, originally written for the string quartet. It has been transcripted/arranged for several other instruments, however, including the piano. I remember accompanying my brother on the piano for this piece.