- Master the moderate allemande (German dance)
- Play the flowing courante (running dance)
- Understand Renaissance suite structure
- Develop stylistic awareness for different national styles
Introduction
Continuing our Renaissance dance journey! Today we explore the allemande and courante—two dances that later became standard movements in Baroque suites. These dances showcase different national styles and characters.
The Allemande
The allemande (al-uh-MAHND) is a moderate-tempo dance of German origin. In the Renaissance, it was danced in couples with a processional quality.
Characteristics:
- Tempo: Moderate (♩ = 80-100 BPM)
- Meter: 4/4 or 2/2 (duple meter)
- Character: Flowing, walking tempo, moderate
- Texture: Often begins with an upbeat (pickup note)
- Articulation: Smooth with gentle separation between phrases
Notice the pickup note at the beginning—very characteristic of allemandes!
Style: Moderate tempo, flowing. Think of walking at a comfortable pace.
The Courante
The courante (koo-RAHNT) means "running" in French. It's a lively dance in triple meter with a flowing, continuous quality.
Characteristics:
- Tempo: Moderately fast (♩ = 120-140 BPM)
- Meter: 3/4 or 3/2 (triple meter)
- Character: Running, flowing, continuous motion
- Rhythm: Often features running eighth notes or quarter notes
- Articulation: Smooth, flowing lines with minimal breaks
Let the notes flow continuously—imagine water running in a stream.
Style: Flowing, continuous. Minimize breaks between notes. Light emphasis on beat 1.
National Styles in Renaissance Dance
Different countries had characteristic styles:
- German (Allemande): Moderate, solid, grounded
- French (Courante): Elegant, flowing, refined
- Italian (Saltarello): Energetic, leaping, exuberant
- English (Country Dance): Folk-like, cheerful, simple
Renaissance Suite Structure
A typical Renaissance dance suite might include:
- Pavane - Slow, stately (duple meter)
- Galliard - Fast, lively (triple meter)
- Allemande - Moderate, flowing (duple meter)
- Courante - Running, continuous (triple meter)
Notice the alternation between duple and triple meters, and the variety of tempos and characters!
1. Pavane (slow, dignified):
2. Galliard (fast, light):
3. Allemande (moderate, flowing):
4. Courante (running, continuous):
Performance Tips
For Allemande:
- Pickup note should flow naturally into downbeat
- Steady, walking tempo—don't rush or drag
- Moderate dynamics
- Think: comfortable stroll, conversation
For Courante:
- Maintain forward momentum—don't hesitate
- Smooth, connected notes within phrases
- Gentle emphasis on beat 1
- Think: flowing water, continuous motion
Ornamentation in Renaissance Dance
Renaissance performers added simple ornaments:
- Grace notes on important beats
- Trills at cadences (phrase endings)
- Divisions (breaking long notes into faster notes)
- Tasteful, not excessive!
Practice Routine (25 minutes daily)
- Allemande (moderate tempo, flowing) - 7 minutes
- Courante (running, continuous) - 7 minutes
- Mini-suite (all four dances) - 8 minutes
- Experiment with light ornamentation - 3 minutes