Duo no. 2 for two horns, KV 487: Menuetto

About this work

Duet no. 2, K. 487 pairs a firmly shaped Menuetto with a more spacious Trio. The two horns alternate melody, sustained notes and accompaniment before the da capo return. The repeats matter: they allow both players to refine balance and phrase endings on the second pass.
Let the first beat dance
Give the first beat definition without making it heavy. Quavers should keep moving towards each cadence, while the Trio’s longer notes need continuous air. Tune thirds and sixths carefully, then agree on breathing points so that the exchange between the lines never sounds interrupted.
The one-page PDF contains the Menuetto, Trio and return indication. The MIDI file provides a clear guide to the complete route before dynamics are added. This engraving by Han-Wen Nienhuys is distributed by the Mutopia Project and is in the public domain. More horn music is available on LesPartitions.info.