The form of a tonal composition is determined by the sizes and relationships of its sections, the treatment of its thematic material, and by the nature and placement of its tonal goals. Bach's Menuet in E major exemplifies what is commonly known as rounded binary form. As the score reveals, it consists of two sections, each of which is repeated, and crucially, there is a reprise of the opening material midway through the second section. It is this "reprise" or retaking of the theme which makes the Menuet "rounded." The following graphic summarizes the most essential features of the Menuet's form:
With respect to function, the first section of the Menuet initially assumes an expository role, introducing the main theme of the work. It then directs tonal motion to the dominant. The second section- -twice as long as the first--first develops and then reprises the basic thematic material. Equally important, it effectively and artistically delays the sense of closure associated with the tonic's eventual return, keeping us in an enjoyable state of suspense until the very end.
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