Name:_____________________ Year 9 Music Date:_________________
The Baroque Dance Suite
During the 16th and 17th Century, dance music was very popular. Wealthy men and women would hire musicians and composers to write and perform music to accompany social gatherings held in palaces and large homes. This led to the development of the Dance Suite during the Baroque period.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Baroquedance.gif/250px-‐Baroquedance.gif
Composers began organising these dances and by the time of Johann Sebastian Bach the Dance Suite had evolved into a structured form of four dances. Each dance had it’s own distinct features and elements. The dances originate from countries around Europe where they first appeared and developed.
http://www.tempestadimare.org/enews/TempestaWebImages/Baroquedance%202.gif
Movements of the Dance Suite
Allemande
A moderate dance in quadruple metre. This dance originated in Germany. The name Allemande means German in French
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Guillaume_Almanach.jpg
Courante
A quick dance in triple metre. This dance originated in France, the word derives from French
verb courir which means ‘to run’
http://www.wimmercello.com/images/bachlut6.gif
Name:_____________________ Year 9 Music Date:_________________
Sarabande
A slow dance in triple metre. The Sarabande originated in Spain and was originally banned in Europe because of its
provocative style of dancing
Gigue
A fast dance in compound duple time (6/8). The dance originated from the English jig
N.B: Some movements were also included in some suites. These optional dances include air, bourree, gavotte, minuet and polonaise. The traditional Dance Suite, however, contains all four of the above dances.
Figure 1http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Tomlinson-‐sarabande.jpg
Figure 2 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Chambonnieres -‐livre-‐2-‐gigue.jpg
Name:_____________________ Year 9 Music Date:_________________
The Baroque Dance Suite Worksheet
Do a quick search on Google on the Baroque Period. What are the dates roughly of the Baroque Period? (2 marks) Write down the names of two important composers of that period. Where were they born? Where did they work? (4 marks) Attach each movement of the Dance Suite in the left column with the correct description of its style and features in the right column
Sarabande Quick dance, 6/8 Allemande Moderate dance, 4/4 Courante Slow dance, 3/4 Gigue Quick dance, 3/4
(4 marks)
Name:_____________________ Year 9 Music Date:_________________
On the map below, cut out and glue to the appropriate country the movement of the Dance Suite that originated from that area
(4 marks)
Sarabande
Allemande
Courante
Gigue