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This class introduces the four basic dance misure of fifteenth-century Italy. We will work on the basic dance forms, and performing the movement of one misura to the other misure. Four balli using these misure will be taught, with the steps needed for them.
Important caveat: The sources for this period are vague, contradictory, and leave a great deal out. The steps are usually not described, so these are at least partially guesswork. Because of this, the steps and dances will probably be taught differently by any other teacher, including myself at a later date. This holds just as true for the styling. As well, the same or similiar step names were often used for steps that were performed differently in the Burgundian or 16th century repertoires.
Piva The fastest misura. Equivelant to 6/8
(THIS is a ROTten floor) or 2/4 (IT'S a BAD floor)
The basic step is a fast doppio, presumably slightly altered.
Step and step (beside first) - step and pause.
An improvised dance form, where the man at least jumped and turned
as he wished.
Saltarello Equivelant to 6/8 (slower than piva = THIS floor
STILL HATES me YUP), 3/4 or possibly 9/8.
The basic step is a doppio with a hop. Step and step step
and hop.
This was an improvised dance, with variation in stepwork. (Women did
this also, but less than men). The only example given, specified
for a woman, is two sempii, or three contrapassi, or these two variations
together. Related to the later galliard. Also called alta danca
and passo brabante.
Quadernaria Equivelant to 4/4. (THIS floor HATES
me)
Basic step is a doppio with a frapamento or ripresetta. Step,
step, step, sidestep and cut.
Also called saltarello tedesco. Rarely done as a dance on its
own
Bassadanza The slowest misura. 6/4. THIS floor is
KILLing me
Basic step is a doppio. Step and step step and pause.
A slow, somewhat processional dances, for which choreographies survive.
No matching music is found in the sources, as apparently any basssadanza
tune of the right size could be used for any bassadanza. (This differs
from the related Burgundian bassedanse, where the choreographies had set
tenors.)
It was expected that each of the misure could be done in music of the
other misure, and the different possiblilities are listed at great length
in two of the manuals. However, some possibilities that are
not mentioned then appear in the dances - such as piva done in one bar
of quadernaria.
For any furthur information, please feel free to contact me at:
Vivian Stephens (416) 537-8630
44 Dewson #3 email: rosina@pathcom.com
Toronto, ON M6H 1G7
Canada
Barbara Sparti, ed., On the Practice of the Art of Dancing, Guglielmo Ebreo., Oxford:Oxford University Press, 1993.
Vivian Stephens & Monica Cellio. Joy and Jealousy: A Manual of 15th-Century Italian Balli. Pittsburgh: Real Soon Now Press, 1997.
Joy and Jealousy, (computer-generated music to accompany manual of same name). 1997. Used "Belfiore" and "Spero."
Light of the North, Lady Marian of Heatherdale. Heather M. Dale,
privately produced. Cassette
Used "Hole in the Wall" for bassadanza.
Mesura et Arte del Danzare. Balli Italiani del Quattrocento. Accademia Viscontea i Musicanti. Ducale CDL 002. Used "Anello" for quadernaria, "Petit Vriens" for piva, "Gelosia".
Sonare et Balare, Dances from 15th c. Italy and France, The Bedford Waits. The Dolmetsch Historical Dance Society, 1990. Cassette. Used "Belreguardo Novo".
First half is in Quadernaria (4/4)
12 Pive, starting Left. (Done in quadernaria, so slower than usual)
Man 1 Doppio Left, then Woman the same, to catch up, then Man 2 the
same.
Man 1 Movimento, then Woman Movimento, then Man 2 Movimento.
Man 1 Voltatonda (4 steps, ccw), then Woman Voltatonda, then Man 2
Voltatonda.
Second half is in Piva (6/8)
Man 1 Piva Left, Piva Right, Piva Left, going behind the others, and
ending to the right of Man 2. Woman
does the same, ending beside Man 1, Man 2 does the same.
Men Doppio Right, changing places, Man 2 going in front of Woman, Man
1 going behind her.
Woman does a "figure-6" = 4 Pive starting Left, going to her right,
behind Man 1, circles him
Everyone is now in a new place. Do dance twice more, rotating roles.
Entire dance in Quadernaria (4/4)
8 Saltarelli, starting Left
Man 1 does 3 Contrapassi Left, going in front of Woman 1, to end to
the right and ahead of Woman 2,
and Reverenza Left (half-bar) to Woman 2, while touching her
right hand.
Man 2 Saltarello Right to join Woman 1.
Man 1 does 3 Piva, going in front of Woman 2, circling counterclockwise
most of the way
around her, ending to the right of Woman 3, then half-bar Reverenza
Left to Woman 3.
Man 3 Saltarello Right to join Woman 2.
Man 1 Saltarello Right, behind Woman 3, ending at her left.
8 Pive (Done two per bar)
Couple 1 Mezavolta (Piva Left, ccw) then Couple 2 the same, then
Couple 3 the same,
and all Men Mezavolta (Piva Right, ccw)
Sempio Left, Sempio Right, Sempio Left, taking right hands and exchanging
places with partner.
Sempio Right, Sempio Left, Sempio Right, taking left hands and going
back to place, Men ending with a
Mezavolta Right.
Repeat dance twice more, until each man returns to his starting place.
Saltarelli (6/8)
One bar Introduction, and 11 Saltarelli, beginning on Right.
Bassadanza (6/4)
Doppio Left, Doppio Right, Doppio Left, Doppio Right.
3 Contrapassi Left. Sempio Right, Sempio Left.
3 Contrapassi Right. Ripresa Left, Ripresa Right.
Saltarello Left, Saltarello Right. Ripresa Left, Ripresa Right. Repeat.
Sempio Left, Sempio Right.
Doppio Left ending with a two-beat Reverenza Right.
Ripresa Right.
Continenza Left, Continenza Right.
Reverenza Left.
Piva, but danced to as if two bars are one bar of quadernaria
4 Saltarelli Tedesci, starting Left
Man Sempio Left, Sempio Right, Doppio Left.
Women Sempio Right, Sempio Left.
Women Doppio Right, as Man Mezavolta
(Doppio Right).
(Man is standing between Women, facing in the opposite direction.)
Quadernaria
Saltarello Tedesco Left, Saltarello Tedesco Right ending with a Mezavolta
Right.
(Dancers are about 12 steps apart, Man facing up the hall, Women
down.)
Saltarelli
Saltarello Left, Saltarello Right, coming together.
Saltarello Left, Saltarello Right ending with a Mezavolta Right.
(Dancers are about 12 steps apart, Men facing down the hall,
Women up.)
Ripresa Left, Ripresa Right.
Bassadanza
Reverenza Left, stepping back on the left foot on the last beat.
2 Riprese Portugalese, Right and Left, moving forward.
Ripresa Portugalesa Right forward, Women ending with a Mezavolta Right.
(Dancers are in a line again, Man in the middle, all facing down
the hall.)
Ripresa Left. Volta del Gioioso. Reverenza Left.
Piva
Man and Woman 1 (the one on his right) take right hands and circle
with Piva Left, Piva Right, Piva Left.
Man and Woman 2 take left hands and circle with Piva Right, Piva Left,
Piva Right.
Man Movimento, then Women Movimento.
Man Voltatonda (4 Steps, starting Left, counterclockwise, each step
taking half a bar.)
Women Voltatonda (same as Man).
(Dancers are facing down the hall, Woman 2 on the left.)
Repeat dance, Women taking each others' roles. (The only difference
is
that Woman 2 will circle with Man first, in Section VI.)
Sempio (Plural is sempii) Half measure
In 4: 1=Step Left, (2)
In 6: 1=Step Left, (2,3)
Doppio (Plural is doppii) One measure
In 4: 1=Step left, 2=step right, 3=step left,
(4)
In 6: 1=Step Left, (2)
3=step right, 4=step left,
(5,6)
Saltarello (Plural is saltarelli) One measure
In 4: 1=Step Left, 2=step right,
4=step left, 4=hop
In 6: 1=Step Left, (2) 3=step right,
4=step left, (5) 6=hop
Saltarello Tedesco
In 4: 1 = Step Left, 2 = Step Right, 3= Step Left,
4=Step to right side, and put left under right.
Piva (Plural is pive) One measure
In 4: 1=Step left, 2=step right beside left, 3=step left,
(4)
In 6: 1=Step left, (2) 3=step right beside left, 4=step left,
(5,6)
Contapasso Timing = In 4 takes half bar. In 6 takes 2/3rds of
a bar.
In 4: 1 = Step left. and = Step right. 2 = Step left. and =
Step right, under left heel.
In 6: 1 = Step left. 2 = Step right. 3 = Step left. 4 = Step
right, under left heel.
Continenza (Plural is continenze) Half measure
Move left foot slightly to the left side and shift weight onto
it (Treading an organ bellows)
Ripresa (Plural is riprese) One measure
In 6/4: 1=Step sideways left, (2) 3=
right foot under left heel,
4=step sideways left, (5,6)
Ripresa Portugalesa = a ripresa done on an angle.
Mezavolta
This is a half turn. If there is a step given after in
brackets, use that. Otherwise, it is a one beat turn on the foot
given. Eg Mezavolta Left = Pivot counterclockwise
on Left foot
Voltatonda
A complete turn done as a little circle. The steps used
will be sdescribed in brackets after)
One voltatonda often used was the volta del gioioso, described below.
Volta del Gioioso Two measures of 6 beats. This is always
done starting on the right foot, so it
is described that way. It consists of two sempii and a ripresa,
done in a counterclockwise circle.
1=Step right, a quarter turn to the left, (2,3)
4=step left another quarter turn,
(5) 6=pivot,
1 (2nd bar)=Step sideways on right, (2)
3=step left under right heel,
4=step right, (5,6)
Movimento Half measure.
Rise on both feet, (not a jump), directing attention at partner.
Reverenza One measure (or sometimes half measure)
Kneel on left knee, keeping upper body straight.
It isn't usually necessary to go all the way to the floor.