Date:Late 15th century or early 16th century Description:Tinternell is a lively and well-known dance tune, often associated with the Renaissance period. It is commonly categorised as a volta, a type of dance in triple time. The melody is bright and repetitive, with a rhythmic structure that invites movement, making it …
Date:Late 16th century Description:The Scottish Bransle (also spelled branle or brawl) is a Renaissance dance tune included in Thoinot Arbeau’s Orchésographie (1589), a dance manual that describes popular dances of the time along with their music and choreography. Despite its name, the Scottish Bransle is not of Scottish origin but …
Date:Late 16th century (likely composed c. 1590s) Description:The Queen’s Alman is a well-known example of a Renaissance dance, specifically an alman, which was a popular courtly dance in the late 16th century. The alman is generally a lively, upbeat dance in duple time (4/4), often characterised by its steady rhythm …
Date:Late 16th to early 17th century (c. 1599–1611) Description:“New Alman” is a popular English Renaissance dance tune, most famously associated with John Playford’s later The Dancing Master collections, though earlier manuscript versions exist. The term “Alman” (also spelled “Almain”) refers to a type of stately duple-time dance of German origin, …
Date:Late 16th century Description:Madam Cecilia’s Alman, alternatively named Madam Sosilia’s Alman, is a lively Renaissance dance piece, belonging to the family of Almain or Alman dances. This particular piece is named after Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, a common reference in Renaissance music, especially when dedicated to notable …
Date:Early 17th century (first published c. 1612) Description:The Lorraine Alman is an instrumental dance piece from the Liber Primus Leviorum Carminum, a collection of lighter, dance-related works from the early 17th century. The Alman is typically performed in a moderate duple time and is characterised by its lively, yet stately …
Date:1589 Description:The “Horse’s Bransle” (Branle des Chevaux) is a lively French Renaissance dance, published in Orchésographie (1589), a dance manual by Thoinot Arbeau (pseudonym of Jehan Tabourot). It mimics the prancing and cantering of horses, often with dancers adding playful movements. Discussion:This dance is part of a larger suite of …
Date:1603 Description:“La Sirena,” also known as “La Caccia”, is a lively and energetic piece by Giovanni Girolamo Gastoldi. This version is one of the more famous settings of the “caccia” genre, where voices imitate each other in a lively, overlapping manner, evoking the feel of a hunt. The composition uses …
Date:15th century Description:A graceful and flowing basse danse, Ginevra (or Pazienza) belongs to the Burgundian court tradition. This dance was typically performed in a slow, stately manner, often accompanied by instrumental consorts. Discussion:The basse danse was a popular courtly dance in the 15th century, particularly in Burgundy and France. Ginevra …
Date:Late 16th century (likely composed around 1590) Description:The “Earl of Essex Measure” is a stately, elegant English court dance from the late Renaissance period. This piece was likely composed in honour of Robert Devereux, the 2nd Earl of Essex, a prominent figure in the Elizabethan court. As a “measure,” it …