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Regional Branles:
Branle de Poictou, Branles d'Escosses,
Trihory
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Orchesography
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Step abbreviations
Dl double sideways to the left; similarly Dr
Sl simple, or single sideway to the left; similarly Sr
kl small kick with your left foot (pied en l'air);
J large jump, straight up, landing on both feet (saut majeur); Jc a large jump with a
capriole
- pause
These branles begin with couples in a line or circle, holding hands; the
leader is on the left.
| The branle of Poictou |
kr - kl - kr - kl - kr kl kr kl - (4 slow, 4 fast)
varied with:
kr - kl - kr - kl kr kl kr kl kr kl - (3 slow, 7 fast)
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A lot like the gai branle. Both were very popular in the
16th C, judging by the amount of surviving music. This is a very lively
dance - not for the faint-hearted. |
| The Scottish branles |
first: Dl Dr Sl Sr
second: Dl Sr Sl Dr Dl Sr kr kl kr Jc |
All the singles and doubles in the Scottish branes finish
with a pied croise: instead of closing your trailing foot, kick across
in front of the shin of your leading foot. These are just the first two of a
longer suite that Arbeau says was popular in the 1560s. |
| Trihory, or the Branle of Brittany |
Dl ending kl,
jump to the left landing on both feet, kl
kr kl
Every second time, or only the last time, the three kicks can be
replaced by swishing your heels to the right, the left, and the right again
while making a kl (all done on tiptoe). |
Perhaps the silliest branle of all, and thus my favourite. |
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