Medieval Instrumental Dances

In Europe the tradition of secular dance has continued unbroken until the present. In the late Middle Ages it was an important and frequent event—for the nobility a gracious way to entertain guests, for the peasantry a welcome relaxation from the toils of the day. Now back in print, this collection presents compositions that are known or suspected to be instrumental dances from before ca. 1420. The 47 pieces vary in length and style and come from French, Italian, English, and Czech sources. Timothy McGee relates medieval dances to the descriptions found in literary, theoretical, and archival sources and to the depictions in the iconography of the Middle Ages. In a section on instrumental performance practices, he provides information about ornamenting the dances and improvising in a historically appropriate style. This comprehensive edition brings together in one volume a repertory that has been scattered over many years and countries.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments DANCE IN THE MIDDLE AGES The Evidence Theoretical Statements and the Dance Repertory Vocal Dances Instrumental Dances THE REPERTORY OF TEXTLESS DANCES Estampie Ductia Nota Other Dances Saltarello Dance Pairs and Trotto Unidentified Dances "Bel fiore dance" "Chanconeta Tedescha" "Czaldy Waldy" "Chose Tassin" No. 42 Summary DANCING Round and Carol Estampie PERFORMANCE PRACTICES Instruments Tempo Ornamentation and Improvisation Theoretical Evidence Ornamented Manuscripts Improvisation over a Cantus Firmus Improvising Additional Dance Material Preludes and Postludes Drones Monophonic and Polyphonic Performance Notes THE DANCES Editorial Practices Paris, Bibliotheque Nationale, fonds francais 22543 1a. Kalenda Maya Paris, Bibliotheque l'Arsenal 5198 1b. Souvent Souspire Oxford, Bodleian Libary, Douce 139 2. Paris, Bibliotheque Nationale, fonds francais 844c 3. [La Prime Estampie Royal] 4. La Seconde Estampie Royal 5. La Tierche Estampie Roial 6. La Quarte Estampie Royal 7. La Quinte Estampie Real 8. La Seste Estampie Real 9. La Septime Estampie Real 10. La Uitime Estampie Real 11. Dansse Real 12. 13. Danse London, British Library, Additional 29987 14. Ghaetta 15. Chominciamento di Gioia 16. Isabella 17. Tre Fontane 18. Belicha 19. Parlamento 20. In Pro 21. Principio di Virtu 22. Salterello [1] 23. Salterello [2] 24. Salterello [3] 25. Salterello [4] 26. Lamento di Tristano—La Rotta 27. La Manfredina—La Rotta della Manfredina 28. Trotto Florence, Archivio di Stato, Antecosimiano No. 17879 29. Danca Amorosa—Troto Prague, State Library XVII F9 30. Czaldy Waldy Montpellier, Bibliotheque de la Faculte de Medecine MS H196 31. Chose Tassin [1] 32. Chose Tassin [2] 33. Chose Tassin [3] 34. Chose Loyset London, Britich Library, Additional 29987 35. Chanconeta Tedescha [1] 36. Chancona Tedescha [2] 37. Chancona Tedescha [3] 38. Chancona Tedescha [4] London, Britich Library, Harley 978 39. 40. 41. London, British Library, Additional 28550 (Robertsbridge Codex) 42. 43. 44. Petrone Faenza, Biblioteca Comunale 117 (faenza Codex) 45. Tumpes 46. Sangilio 47. Bel Fiore Danca Critical Notes Facsimiles and Transcriptions PLATES Dance in the Garden of Mirth Frontispiece 1. Detail from The Effects of Good Government 3 2. Detail from Church 3 3. Fresco, Trent 4 4. Music in the Garden of Delight 4

About the Author :
Timothy J. McGee is Honourary Professor at Trent University and Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto. His many books include Medieval and Renaissance Music: A Performer's Guide; Singing Early Music: The Pronunciation of European Languages in the Late Middle Ages and Renaissance (IUP, 1996); and The Ceremonial Musicians of Late Medieval Florence (IUP, 2009).