Baroque Dance Styles

Question 1

Time signature: 4/4 or 2/2
Italian marking: allegretto, moderato, allegro moderato
Characteristics: usually a sixteenth note upbeat, flow of continuous running sixteenth notes throughout

Answer 1

Allemande

Question 2

Time signature: 3/4, 3/2, 3/8, 6/4
Italian marking: allegro, vivace (Italian), moderato (French)
Characteristics: light texture and rapid figures (means ‘running’); Italian _______ is in quick triple time (usually 3/4) with running passages; French _______ is in a moderate tempo (3/2 or 6/4) with shifts from triple to duplex time

Answer 2

Courrente or courante

Question 3

Describe the dance style courante

Answer 3

Time signature: 3/4, 3/2, 3/8, 6/4
Italian marking: allegro, vivace (Italian), moderato (French)
Characteristics: light texture and rapid figures (means ‘running’); Italian _______ is in quick triple time (usually 3/4) with running passages; French _______ is in a moderate tempo (3/2 or 6/4) with shifts from triple to duplex time

Question 4

Describe bourree

Answer 4

Time signature: 2/4, 4/4, 3/2
Italian marking: Vivace, Allegro Vivace
Characteristics: French dance, quarter-note rhythm (or 2 eighth note) upbeat; quick duple time, rhythmic and bright with steady quarter notes

Question 5

Minuet

Answer 5

Time signature: 3/4 or 3/8
Italian marking: moderato grazioso, andante
Characteristics: French dance, unhurried tempo; graceful