Court Ayres - Selection of Dance Movements

Master refined court dances
Develop aristocratic style
Execute sophisticated phrasing
Perfect English court idiom

About This Piece

Compiler: John Playford (Various Composers)

Difficulty: Late Intermediate

Notes Used: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C, D (high), E (high), F# (high), G (high)

Key: D Major

Form: Suite of Court Dances

Selection of Movements

Stately German court dance in English style.

Lively French court dance adapted to English taste.

Slow Spanish dance with English refinement.

Performance Practice Notes

Court style: Refined, aristocratic character
Continental dances: English adaptations of European forms

Historical Context

Playford's collections of "Court Ayres" brought Continental court dances to English audiences. These pieces represent the internationalization of English court music, blending French, German, and Spanish dances with English refinement. This completes your study of Playford collections, demonstrating the full range of English Baroque dance and air traditions.

Performance Goal: Demonstrate aristocratic refinement in various court dance styles. This completes your comprehensive study of English Baroque dance traditions from Playford's collections.