The main theme of the Menuet is a memorable melodic phrase whose recurrent statements are easily associated with one another. In this way it represents an important unifying device. However it is also evident that the theme served as a developmental resource, generating much of the melodic material found in the fabric of the Menuet. As this illustrates, the main theme is heard at the very beginning of the composition:
Following its introduction, the theme is heard again at the start of the second section (mm. 9-10), where it is sounded a perfect fifth higher. The connection between the opening statement and its subsequent transposition is clearly audible, though the higher register helps give the returning theme somewhat greater intensity. The familiar melody eventually reappears at its original pitch level in mm. 17-18, creating a clear reprise, though sensitive listeners will detect a significant change in the bass. As we will see in the next section of this analysis, the motivic components of the theme are also used separately and developed in a variety of ways.
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