Bastian Lit 1: Minuet in G Bach 116 and Baroque Articulation

 This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with Minuet in G by Bach 116  in Bastian  Lit Vol 1.

Baroque keyboard music was not actually played on the piano when it was composed, because the piano had not been invented yet. Listen to this performance of Minuet in G played on the clavichord. Can you hear the extra ornaments the performer added that are not in your music?

Baroque Fingering

Most original Baroque music did not have fingering indicated. Marked fingering is a guide, not a rule. Adapt if necessary to suit your hand while keeping the suggested phrasing. Change fingering on some repeated notes to avoid tension or to add a dance-like lilt.

Baroque Articulation and Expression

Articulation marks vary in different scores of Baroque music because Bach's original piece did not have them written in. Think of the staccato markings as gentle staccato where the notes are half the value written but not too crisp or accented. Play quarter notes with a detached portato Baroque style.  The piano was not invented so dynamics add expression that was not able to be included on the clavichord of the day. Dynamics were later added by the editor to add musicality.

Watch Tracy Xian demonstrate how to play gentle "staccato" marks in this piece starting at 3:45

Practice steps. Play along with the video. Play the same hand, or play the opposite hand to hear the opposite part as you play. 

1. RH alone focus on fingering, phrasing and portato 14:06

2. LH alone focus on fingering, phrasing and portato 16:02

3. Hands Together Slowly voicing the moving part.

Option: Watch Josh Wright Bach Minuet in G Bach 116 Piano Tutorial for additional practice tips.

Memorization Tips

Instead of just relying on muscle memory, it helps to analyze patterns in the piece early and create a music map early on. Because the melody line is more prominent it is easier for me to remember, my memory map focuses mainly on the left-hand patterns in each line.

1  Contrary Arpeggios

2  Falling, Falling, Getup, Twirl

3 Contrary Arpeggios

4 Chords, 4 4 5 1

5 Leading Tone, Arpeggio, Broken, Arpeggio

6 Broken, Albert, 4 5 5 1, Bridge

7 Chord Step Step Arpeggio

8 Rocking 3rd/4th Twirl

9 Contrary Arpeggios

10 Chords Beetle 4 - 5 1