minuet

A minuet is a dance in triple meter that originated in the French court during the 17th century, named from the French menuet meaning “small” or “little.” It became a staple of courtly entertainment and later a standard movement in Western instrumental music.

Musically, minuets are typically in 3/4 time and characterized by a graceful, measured style. In Baroque dance suites, the minuet often appears as a binary movement with a repetition pattern labeled AABB. In the Classical period, the minuet commonly appears as part of a three-movement sequence known as the minuet and trio, usually in ABA form, where a contrasting trio section is followed by a return to the main minuet.

As a social dance, the minuet was performed by couples at court with formal etiquette, measured steps, and light promenades, accompanied by subtle bowing and curtseying. The dance embodies a refined, ceremonial atmosphere and was often used to display poise and grace.

The minuet's prominence declined in the 19th century, supplanted by the scherzo in many musical works. Nevertheless, the form continues to be recognized in music history as a notable dance and musical movement. It appears in the works of composers such as Bach, Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, where it served both as a functional dance and as a vehicle for graceful, balanced musical ideas.