Currently, there are many different dance options that many have not even heard of. But what were their predecessors and where did the river originate? Can you continue the phrase: "Sarabande is ..."?
How it all began?
Sarabanda is a dance that appeared in Spain in the 16th century. Despite the fact that it belongs to the Spanish heritage, it has deep roots from the past: these are Arabic-Roman notes (Andalusia of the XI century), and an echo of Latin American folklore.
The very origin of the word has not yet been established, but there are a number of assumptions:
- from Hebrew zara means "circle";
- from Spanish sacra banda is translated - "sacred rite".
There is a crazier theory that says: the name comes from the name of the devil - Zarabanda, who appeared in Seville. This event belongs to the XII century. Later, even one Spanish writer referred to Sarabanda as "the sounds of the devil."
The dance had two sides:
- Religious and solemn procession.
- Cheerful dance, backed by drum and castanet support.
Sarabanda was originally introduced into Spain as a “dance of the harvest."
Two sides
Why is sarabanda such an ambiguous dance?
In the 1560s, from a church festive move, she was reborn into calm choreography. Its meaning was to move the pairs back and forth, and then to pass between two rows of other participants. The church approved the innovation, but after 20 years, the lower classes created a different type of sarabanda.
In the eyes of commoners, the dance was in the nature of passion, wildness and fire. It was performed to songs that were considered at that time very indecent. Flexible postures and sharp movements, accompaniment of castanets and trampling under his foot - all this depravity greatly disturbed the church. Subsequently, cruel punishments began to be applied for the performance of the “dance of demons": the girls were threatened with exile, the men were subjected to multiple lashes.
In the 30s, dance was banned at the level of the Castile Council.
Further development
Despite the measures taken, the saraband continues to live and in the XVII century acquires a new image. It becomes part of the court dance and is already different from the previous one: its majestic and solemn character is to the taste of the upper layers of society.
Sarabanda goes beyond the borders of his country and spreads throughout Europe:
- in Spain it is a dance of a couple in love and wears a calm rhythm;
- in England, on the contrary, a nimble type of movement;
- Germany was able to take both types of sarabanda under its wing.
In Paris, her debut took place at a slow pace at the Louis XIV ball, organized in honor of the marriage of the Duke of Bourbon.
But the final result of the saraband is part of the important burials in honoring the dead.
Print
The dance first acquired its form in 1606. German musical theorist Michael Pretorius in 1612 publishes a collection of instrumental pieces entitled "Terpsichore", which contains a fairly large number of notes saraband.
Handel's merit
A striking example of Sarabande can be found in Handel’s composition - Suite No. 7 in G Minor.
The work was written for clavier in 1720. In total, the cycle contains 6 plays, and the dance goes under the 4th number.
Suite - a musical composition consisting of contrasting parts united by a single meaning. It necessarily includes 4 rooms:
- Allemand - a three-lobed dance of German origin, the progenitor of the waltz.
- Couranto is originally from France of a three-lobed size.
- Sarabandu.
- Gigue - came out of England and was distinguished by a mobile and mischievous character.
In addition to the above dances, it can include minuets, passacaglia and other numbers.
Sarabanda in the 7th suite is filled with light majestic sadness and contrasts well with other parts.
Handel is not limited to one composition, and the second striking example is his work for harpsichord in the key of D minor. It also has a saraband, which gained great fame after the release of the film "Barry Lyndon" directed by Stanley Kubrick. The filmmaker used it not in a harpsichord, but in an orchestral form, which contributed to the popularity of the composition.
Along with Handel, Sarah was written by the world famous Bach, composer-violinist Vivaldi, and domestic property - Stravinsky, as well as Maurice Ravel - a musical reformer of the 20th century.
Present
Ancient dances to this day are desirable for connoisseurs of classical culture. They are played in any composition: orchestra, ensemble and solo. There is also a wide range of choices of instruments: strings, winds and, of course, keyboards.
The suites written earlier were most often performed on harpsichords, but over time the range of options expanded and court dances began to be played (in particular, saraband) on the piano, acquiring new musical colors.