Noctave
The piece
This anonymous C minor minuet also appears in the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach. Its opening climbs step by step, each note repeated before moving on (C–C–D, E-flat–E-flat–F), which gives it a serious, determined character. The ending holds a surprise: an almost entirely chromatic climb in the right hand while the left hand descends, also by half steps.
The repeated quarter notes at the start need an even touch: let the key rise between the two without losing contact with it, so the repetition stays clean without turning dry. One bar later, the left hand imitates that pattern two octaves lower, which makes the reading easier. In the middle section, little eighth-note triplets lead to cadences in F minor and then E-flat major. For the final climb, take time to read every sharp and natural: the hands move in contrary motion, so you have to follow both staves at once.