Folk Dances

The original dances of the suite

Allemande - a moderate festive German dance, Usually in duple meter (usually 4/4) and binary form.

Courante - a quick dance, whose origins are French, yet became famous in its 3/4 Italian version.

Sarabande, Saraband, Sarabanda - a slow Spanish dance in a triple meter and a simple binary structure, with a slight emphasis on the second beat. Also in the classical suite, before the concluding gigue. A famous sarabande is the one by Bach, in his orchestral flute suite.

Gigue - originated in England or Scotland, a fast dance usually in 6/8 or a triple meter, ending the classical suite. Its form is usually binary, and sometimes the second part opens with an inversion of the first section's theme. Bach tends to end his harpsichord suites with a gigue.

Added to the suite later on

Burree (Bourree) - a vigilant 4/4 dance played a-la-breve.

Minuette - a French country-dance introduced in royal courts and even many forms of art music - sonatas, symphonies and oratorio openings. 3/4 meter.

Gavotte - a French festive dance in a duple meter, starting on the upbeat (with a pickup bar).

Hornpipe - a lively English popular dance whose origin is a sailor dance. Until the end of the 18th century, it was in 3/2 meter, in later times such dances were composed in 2/4.

Badinerie - a playful dance in duple meter. Occasionally found in a suite.

Additional dances

Galope, Galop, Gallop - a cheerful circle dance in a 2/4 meter from Germany.

Waltz - a 3/4 dance, popular since the late 19th century. Johann Strauss Junior was the greatest of waltz writers.

Pavane - a festive, double meter dance (usually 4/4 or 2/4), whose origins are probably Padua, Italy (hence its name).

Galliard - a rapid triple meter dance integrated into the suite.

Tarantella - a fast dance whose purpose was to cure the bite of the tarantula spider.

Farandole - a dance whose true origin is presumably Greek, yet became famous in southern France. Meter - 6/8. Bizet used a farandole in "L'Arlesienne".

Bolero - a Spanish 3/4 dance. Ravel immortalized its name in his all time famous piece "Bolero", although he actually used a fandango dance in the music itself.

Fandango - an exciting Spanish dance, 3/4 meter.

Czardas - a popular Hungarian dance effected by gypsy music. Of binary form (a slow section followed by a rhythmical one). Liszt introduced it into art music.

Mazurka - a Polish folk dance that became an all-European aristocratic dance. 3/4 meter, accenting the off-beats in every measure. Chopin composed many mazurkas.

Polonaise - a Polish ceremonial dance in a triple meter. Chopin composed many such dances.

Hopak, Gopak - a cheerful Russian folk dance in an even meter (2/4). Mussorgski combined it in the opera "Sorochintsy Fair".

Polka - a Bohemian folk dance, danced in 2/4 meter and small steps. Invented by a country housemaid.

Ecossaise - a Scottish 2/4 dance from the 18th century.

Chaconne - A slow Spanish dance in 3/4. Theme is in the bass, played over and over (ostinato), and above it grows the melody. Introduced into the suite in the 17th century. A famous piece in this genre is J.S. Bach's chaconne from the D minor violin suite.

Passacaglia - similar to the chaconne - continuous set of variations based on a repeating bass line.

Habanera - Cuban dance with singing introduced into Spain and became slow dance in an even meter. Word comes from Habana (Havana - the capital of Cuba).

Cha cha cha - A social dance from Cuba, that was very popular in the USA and all over the world in the 1950s. Originating from the mambo. It's name derives from its characteristic rhythm - two quarter-notes, three eighth-notes, and eighth-note rest.

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