Branle - Renaissance Dance

Branle

Learn Renaissance dance style
Practice simple, folk-like melody
Master duple meter dance rhythm

About This Song

Origin: Traditional Renaissance dance (French, 16th century)

Difficulty: Intermediate

Notes Used: D, E, F#, G, A, B

Time Signature: 4/4

Key: D Major

Fingering Review

Full Song

A simple Renaissance circle dance. Branles were social dances performed in groups with linked hands.

Practice Tips

Simple folk style: Branles are folk dances - keep it straightforward and unpretentious
Social dance: Imagine people dancing in a circle holding hands
Steady tempo: The rhythm should be clear and easy to dance to
Renaissance character: Simpler and more direct than Baroque music

Practice Exercises

Practice the opening stepwise ascending pattern.

Master the descending phrase.

Practice the second ascending phrase.

Practice the scale pattern used in the dance.

Play the full branle with folk dance character.

Historical Context

The branle (also spelled bransle or brawl) was one of the most popular Renaissance dances, originating in France in the 15th-16th centuries. Performed in a circle or line with dancers holding hands, branles came in many varieties - some fast, some slow, some with particular regional characteristics. The dance was enjoyed by all social classes, from peasants to nobility. The simple, repetitive melodies made them easy to remember and dance to. Composer Thoinot Arbeau documented many branles in his 1589 dance manual "Orchésographie," preserving these dances for future generations. The branle influenced later Baroque dances and represents an important link between medieval and Baroque dance traditions.

Performance Goal: Play with simple, folk-like character. Keep the tempo steady and dance-like. The melody should be clear and easy to follow, as if accompanying dancers.

Next Steps

Once you can play this confidently, try:

Playing with a steady, dance-like pulse
Imagining the circle of dancers as you play
Learning "Pavane" for a contrasting slow Renaissance dance