Deux Danses de la Renaissance

Description

The two dances presented in this arrangement compliment each other making for an exciting performance piece. There is a balance among the instrumental parts so that all sections have interest.

Each dance could be performed separately or with a pause between the two but when played without pause there is energy and momentum which propels the piece.

The first dance, the Basse Danse “Joyeux”, may sound familiar because it is used by Peter Warlock in his “Carriol Suite”.

The original source of the pieces in that suite as well as many other French dances is a treatise by French composer Jehan Tabouret (1520-1595) who wrote under the pen name of Thionot Arbeau. This treatise or dance manual, “Orchesographie”, is a major source of information about Renaissance Dance. It contains detailed instructions on the styles of dance (branle, galliard, pavane, tourdion, basse danse) as well as dance notation of the time.

The second dance is one of the popular “Branke” by Claude Gervaise who flourished around 1540-1560. He contributed numerous “Granle” which are sixteen measure musical themes harmonized in four parts. This brante is one of the “Brante Dix le Champaigne Conductors may want to add percussion instruments for variety in a concert. Tambourines and drums would be the most common used accompaniments for music of this time.

Renaissance music is one of the most appealing types of music to the students of today. The modal harmonies are similar to those of today’s popular music.

A great piece for festival, “Deux Danses de la Renaissance” is personable and sophisticated. Your groups will get optimum sonority out of the harmonic writing for this level.

Published by: RBC Publications