Description

LUIGI BOCCHERINI: Minuet and Trio, from String Quintet in E major, G.275 (No. 5)
Arranged for bassoon quartet by Michael A. Grant
 
Boccherini’s Minuet and Trio was originally written for the (slightly unconventional*) instrumentation of a string quintet, consisting of 2 violins, 1 viola and 2 cellos. This is because the composer was a cellist himself, so would occasionally add an extra part to the more common string quartet format so that he could join in performances with the established quartet which he wrote for. This piece (sometimes known as the ‘Celebrated Minuet’) is the most famous of the original work’s four movements, and was notably used in the 1955 film ‘The Ladykillers’ as well as the ‘Smart Arty’ segments of children’s television programme ‘ZZZap!’.
 
This arrangement can be performed as a bassoon quartet or (by eliminating the optional 4th part) as a trio.
 
*More unconventional than a bassoon quartet? Discuss…