Question about Minuet in G by Bach

Hello, I am learning this simple piece and it is all going very well. However, I have a question regarding some things in this piece. Maybe it is answered in a future video of Andrews but I am not sure what to google for to find this information either so I'd thought I'd ask here.

http://www.music-scores.com/midi.php?sheetmusic=Bach_Anna_Magdalena_04_Minuet_in_G

For example, in bar 28 at the bass clef there is a rest and a note at the very same time. What to do? It's kind of hard to do them both at the same time .

I'm sure it has some very simple explanation but I can't really figure it out just by listening to the MIDI file, it sounds like the note is played as usual.

You will see in the 29th measure that the D is held for the full 3 beat measure. But also later on the third beat the F# is also played for one beat.

I don't know what they call it, but it definitly brings attention to the part . Notice that the note stems are going in opposite directions when they should be going the same way. So, the rests are for the f# note, in a way.

Notice that this also occurs just a few bars earlier. But I don't think most people would even notice if the timing in these areas was not done 100% .

Hey Circle, I am not sure that I follow you.

Let's look at the 24th bar (is it bar or measure? I thought it was bar ), there we have 2 half notes and a quarter note. I though that we, in this case of 3/4, only could have 3 quarter notes, or it's equivalent.

Ah, it's confusing being a beginner.

BrandonWalsh wrote:
Ah, it's confusing being a beginner.

I hear ya, man! Luckily I'm familiar with this one.

So, let's look at the part here you mentioned. (i'll just call it "part" because I have no idea if it's bar or measure ) 2 half notes and a quarter note.

The B is played on the first beat, and held for 2 beats. The B is played again on the third beat. Meanwhile, the D gets played on the second beat and held for 2 beats.

So, let me try it another way. When I play this (or try to play this, it's not always correct!) I play the first B with my 3 finger. While I'm holding that note, I play the D on the second beat with the 1 finger (thumb). On the third beat, the 3 finger plays the B note again while the thumb is still holding down the D for the full 2 beats. At the end, both notes are released together.

What is still confusing to me is that on the sheet music I'm referencing, the third beat B note (the second time the B is played), the little stem is going up! On the sheet you linked to, the stem is going down, which makes more sense.

Anyway, I hope that helps. And if you're not a stickler for following the sheet exactly, if each note is played as a quarter note, it doesn't sound much different. I think Bach (or whoever wrote this) was just trying to show off.


ETA: So, now I realize why they put in the rests. Without the rests, it would look like 5 beats in a 3 beat measure. So in these cases, it's as if there are three lines of music, the treble clef, bass clef, and the middle part. Each has 3 beats. The Treble clef has it's three beats, naturally. The B has a half note and a quarter note for 3 beats, and the D is a half note, so it needs a quarter rest to equal three beats.

The solution to make something more clear is to make it more confusing!

Aha! Thank you for taking the time to explain this to a slow-minded Swede!

So in measure/bar/magical thingy 25 the bass clef actually only consists of the half note and the quarter note = 3 quarter notes. Then there is this new magical apparition never seen before that is some sort of thing between the treble and the bass clef, which consists of a quarter rest and a half note D = 3 quarter notes.

This makes sense now. Kind of. Thanks! It's the first proper song I try to learn and it's a nice break from just running the scales. Apart from this little confusing element I find it quite easy and I hope to be able to play it straight through shortly. If so, I shall yell "All hail the Circle Guy!" at the end of every performance.

I know it's solved already but looking at the sheet the thought that comes to my mind is that it's like if it would be on a separate line (like you have treble, the bass and this is a third that you still play with left hand but notes are parallel to bass not after those)
Like if there would be another line for another instrument

BrandonWalsh wrote:It's the first proper song I try to learn and it's a nice break from just running the scales. Apart from this little confusing element I find it quite easy and I hope to be able to play it straight through shortly.

Wow, impressive! Great to hear you're moving along well on this one!

It's a great piece. This was the first piece I learned where my wife was genuinely impressed with my playing. At the same time I think she realized that I was serious about learning piano and that she would now have to compete for attention.

If you like this piece, there is a companion piece in G minor that goes with it. It's worth considering if you're looking for something:

http://www.mutopiaproject.org/ftp/BachJS/BWVAnh115/anna-magdalena-05/anna-magdalena-05-let.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWoQh4c82hE

I'm just putting the finishing touches on it at the moment. Good stuff!

Thanks a lot for the links, will definitely check it out. And it's not really that impressive, I've only learned the first half yet so I might get stuck on the second part... who knows

It's a nice little song, although I generally prefer stuff in minor but it was one of the first pieces of sheet music I stumbled upon so that's why I chose it. Sounds like the links you posted of the song in G mino would be great for practice later when I am nailing the minor scales as well as the major ones.

And it is always a little slap in the face to see this li'l 9 year old kid play things without breaking a sweat

Good stuff indeed, thanks!