About this work
Mozart’s Gigue in G major, K. 574, moves in six quavers to the bar, yet its voices do not simply line up on the beats. The opening motif begins on an upbeat and passes between the lines; held notes remain in place as another voice takes over. Beneath the dance rhythm lies a compact piece of counterpoint, with each line following its own course.
At the piano, find the motif’s entries before putting both hands together. A voice can move to the other stave without breaking its phrase, so follow the stems and ties rather than treating each stave as a separate melody. Begin slowly and hold tied notes for their full value. Then feel two main beats in each 6/8 bar to keep the dance moving.
The closely spaced accidentals give these exchanges some unexpected colours. Practise a short group of notes, naming the pitches that change, then restore the whole phrase. Make the rests as clear as the attacks: they leave room for another voice to enter without every note needing an accent.
What the document contains
The two-page PDF contains the complete piano Gigue, K. 574, with its repeat signs. Maurizio Tomasi’s engraving, distributed by Mutopia, cites an 1880s Breitkopf und Härtel edition and is declared public domain. A MIDI file accompanies the score. A link to LesPartitions.info has been added to the PDF.