Sonata in C Op. 29: III Menuet
Anton Diabelli
This is the Menuet from Sonata in C Op. 29 by Anton Diabelli (1781 - 1858).
Diabelli is best known because of his Austrian music publishing company Cappi & Diabelli that published many of the works of Franz Schubert. Additionally Diabelli was a piano and guitar teacher who composed a moderate repertoire for piano solo, piano and guitar and guitar solo and duo. Much of Diabelli’s oeuvre was directed towards his pupils, many beginning pianist will remember Diabelli’s Sonatinas.
Diabelli’s music got known in a broader context when he organized a contest that required well-known composers of his day to write variations on a waltz composed by himself. Ludwig van Beethoven accepted this challenge with great aplomb and completely moulded the simple Diabelli theme in a grandioso concert work with his 33 variations in the Diabelli Variations Op. 120.
Sonate in C Op. 29 has four movements, Allegro, Andante Cantabile, Menuet and Rondo.
The Menuet with accompanying Trio has a strict classical structure. You exactly know what to expect.
Here it is possible to speed up things a bit. Not too much, else the piece will sound hurried and you have to spare some effort for the Rondo. Play the minuet sharply and approach the trio with slightly more depth as a contrast.