Dance Suite

Listen to a Gavotte from a Dance Suite by George F. Handel

A collection of dance inspired movements. Each movement is named according to the type of dance and each movement intends to capture the feeling and spirit of each of the court dances. Suite means to follow as one movement follows another in a dance suite. Similar to use of the word a “suite of rooms” each connected to each other. The common movements and their most frequent order are:

Prelude – an introduction to the collection of dances usually freer and less steady in its rhythmic design. It is the only non-dance movement of the set. The prelude prepares the listener for what is going to follow and is often in the form of a free improvisation.

Allemande – a graceful moderate tempo, duple meter court dance. In Italy and parts of France the allemande uses many rapid notes suggesting flowing movements in which dance partners always keep both hands joined. Other French type allemandes contain short dotted figures which create a music jerk or stutter suggesting regal ness or nobility.

Courante – French for “running” the courante suggests dancers running or jumping while they dance. The courante is a triple meter dance and the tempo is fast. When dancers weren’t running in the courante they were gliding along the dance floor while making gallant gestures.

Sarabande – A slow, elegant, triple meter dance. Usually the most expressive musical movement of the suite. The Sarabande had sensual movements and has a physical and consequently a musical emphasis on the second count of the triple meter.

Bourree, Gavotte or Minuet:

Bourree – A lively dance in duple meter. The bourree begins with an upbeat and is usually strong and rhythmic because the early bourree’s had dancers dance in wooden shoes which added additional clatter to the music.

Gavotte – Named after peasants from southern France (gavots) the gavotte is an energetic dance with lots of leaping. Because of the sentimental nature of the courtly dance, the music for the gavotte is often tuneful and the most musically accessible of all the movements.

Minuet – The most beloved dance of Louis the XIV. The minuet is a graceful couples dance in triple meter and may be the predecessor to the modern day waltz. In the dance of the minuet the man pays homage to his partner by deeply bowing. Then the male dancer guides the female through intricate gliding and bending motions. Hand in hand both dancers perform dainty retreats and approaches. The word ”minuet” means small and is taken from the minute motions of the dance.

Gigue – The fastest movement of the dance suite and the most vigorous. Most gigues have a galloping type of rhythm and the meter is usually in compound (a combination of duple and triple). The compound meter is most noticeable in the frequent use of running triplets. The gigue appears as the last movement of the dance and it is typical to hear imitation in the voices which is unusual for a dance movement. The driving rhythm of the gigue is an exciting way to end the series of dance movements.