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Does anyone have the sheet music to this. And was it the inspiration for the 60's hit, 'A Lover's Concerto'? ....'how gentle is the rain...' I love the melody.

Google for "Bach minuet in G free sheet music" and you will find many hits. I'm guessing you are looking for the minuet in G from the notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach (there are other Bach minuets in G), I found one copy here,

http://www.musicandyou.com/free_pianolesson_intermediate/Bach2.pdf

I'm sure there are other copies available.

Thanks Chris!

aaaugh, I just had a flashback to the sixties
Yes, it is the same tune. Well, sort of. They turned 3-time into 4-time, so make sure you count it right

(PS, I liked your canon slideshow )

HappyApple, you can also find a lot of scores here: http://imslp.org/wiki/Main_Page

Here's the first page of 2 of the JS Bach Minuet in G.

Realize through that many editors put in their own dynamic markings even though in Baroque music dynamics for the most part weren't an option for composers.

I think the Mutopia version is easier to read (less space between notes): http://www.mutopiaproject.org/ftp/BachJS/BWVAnh114/anna-magdalena-04/anna-magdalena-04-let.pdf

Has it been established that this piece is actually by Bach? I've seen it ascribed to other composers.....

Christian Petzold according to my copy of it.

The menuet in G-major and the menuet in G-minor were conceived as mirror images of each other, and to be played together as movements of a single work: G-major, then G-minor, then G-major.

The version posted above, with schmaltzy dynamics and legato indications, and without ornaments is to be avoided at all costs.

With respect ... chappie from Andorra ... we'd appreciate verifying (with link) your claim:

"The menuet in G-major and the menuet in G-minor were conceived as mirror images of each other, and to be played together as movements of a single work: G-major, then G-minor, then G-major."

I'm not sure the ABRSM would appreciate your bland "Schmaltzy" opinion of the posted Minuet in G by Bach ... from their examination album selection of 18 Pieces from A LITTLE NOTEBOOK for Anna Magdalena Bach.

PS The score to the Minuet in G, kindly submitted by Martin D. Doege from Hamburg is the same as the ABRSM version ... what's the beef?

Had a chat with Old Bach, told me so himself. Insists on presenting each menuet on it's own page, face to face, so that youngsters can visualise the symmetry. He was categorical about that.

No link, Bach doesn't twitter.

As for "schmaltzy", I was just toning down what he had to say about the ABRSM.

It's not the same as my ABSRM version, which is somewhat odd.

I have this one:

http://www.abrsm.org/publishing/publications/1867

My version has no legato markings, and shows extensive ornamentation -- which I imagine would have been played, whether they actually written into the score by Bach/Petzold/whoever.

I find it mildly odd that two versions of the same piece from the same imprint should be so different, but then I suspect that they're aimed at different people.

FWIW, my understanding is that the authorship of the Minuet in G is still contested, and unlikely to be resolved conclusively.

Yes it's a shame that the G minor is not more often reproduced next to its twin in music books. I find the G minor one so lovely, the last 8 bars especially. I don't really enjoy the Gmajor on its own, either i've heard it too much or have buried memories of struggling with its difficulties as a child.

Discovering the G min as an adult was a nice surprise.

FWIW the ABRSM version I linked above does have these pieces reproduced back-to-back, along with the instruction to play one after the other.

Hi Kevin, I had clicked on the link but didn't try and look further. Good to hear that they have published the pair - I think a lot of ppl will enjoy that In the meantime I just listened to "bachscholar" on youtube who played only the major, then followed it with different piece I am just off to play it now (sigh...)

The Andorra-chappie’s brassy comment had me going for a while:

"The menuet in G-major and the menuet in G-minor were conceived as mirror images of each other, and to be played together as movements of a single work: G-major, then G-minor, then G-major . The version posted above, with schmaltzy dynamics and legato indications, and without ornaments is to be avoided at all costs. "

until I took the trouble to play and compare both major and minor G minuets.

Here’s a copy of the minor G minuet to compare with the Major G minuet previously posted.

It should be noted that the shapes of the two minuets are totally dissimilar ... however, fragments of identical note patterns (sometimes at different pitches) are echoed in the G minor minuet. (Eg. the 4-notes at major m1 are identical at minor m3).

I like the most the minuet G major anh 116

http://www.4shared.com/file/186728135/8b5f1c90/minueto_em_sol_maior_anh_116.html

The Einstein raspberry avatar does the respected al-mahed little credit (apparently from nowhere and without a piano) ... the watchword on the Forum is friendly co-operation.

The a-m liking for the Bach Minuet in G (as for most) could well be the simplicity of the format ... a single-note outline in two hands (with a brief chord at start and finish) .

The ever-considerate JSB got his dear daughter Anna Magdalena started on a none-too-taxing repeatable 16 measure gem ... with similar 16m variation.

Bach charmingly said of his family

"They are one and all born musicians, and I assure you that I can already form a concert, both vocal and instrumental, of my own family, particularly as my wife sings a clear soprano, and my eldest daughter joins in bravely. "


Here’s how my lot see the Minuet in G ... in MIDI format.