Breton Branle

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Revision as of 11:38, 13 September 2009 by HenryMaldon (talk | contribs) (→‎Verse: more about the two versions; also corrected the subsection title)
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The Breton branle (Branle de Bretagne), also called the Triory or Trihory of Brittany, is a dance found in Orchesography by Thoinot Arbeau.

Steps Used

Choreography

As with all branles, this dance is performed in a line of people holding hands or, if enough people are present, a circle. It is not necessary for the dancers to be paired into partners.

Steps

DL, ending with KL, Spring to the left, landing pieds joints, KL KR KL (on 6 & 7)

Alternative ending on 6 & 7: Hold up both heels to R, same to L, hold up R heel to R with KL

It is not clear why the figure has two different endings; maybe the second ending was supposed to be used after the first (though there is no indication of how the dancers would know when to use it), or else the second might have been intended as a more exact and complete version. The discussion that introduces the second version indicates that Arbeau was not committed to the terms of the first version, which suggests that the first version may have been only a preliminary attempt to describe the steps.

Music

This music has an uneven rhythm, with seven beats to the bar (7/1 time, modernized as 7/4).

Branles

Aridan Branle | Breton Branle | Burgundian Branle | Candlestick Branle | Cassandra Branle | Charlotte Branle | Clog Branle | Double Branle | Gavotte | Gay Branle | Haut Barrois Branle | Hay Branle | Hermits Branle | Horses Branle | Maltese Branle | Montarde Branle | Official Branle | Pease Branle | Pinagay Branle | Poitou Branle | Scottish Branle | Single Branle | War Branle | Washerwomen's Branle