Il Canario, from Caroso's Il Ballarino, 1580

translated by K. Davies, 4-04

This is the earliest Canary I know of, and it shows - the first few mutanze are much simpler than anything in the other sources (except Arbeau). The man and the woman do the same mutanze thoughout, three each before changing places, and another three after. They dance the turning passage together. Caroso's music has 13 bars, arranged in three four-bar phrases, where Negri has four phrases (17 bars). I'm not sure if this is a real variation or an error in the intabulation - some parts of this choreography make more sense with Negri's music (the short phrases to be repeated four times), others with the shorter strain (changing places with twelve spezzati, for instance). I'd like to see any solution which can make the whole dance fit well with music of either length. 

IL CANARIO

IN HONOUR OF THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS LADY

The Lady Vittoria Santacroce Borghese,

Roman Gentlewoman.

In the beginning of this Ballo, the Man will take the Lady by the customary hand, and together they will do the Riverenza minima, with two Continenze, one to the left and the other to the right. Then they will do eight Seguiti spezzatti schisciati, four proceeding forwards, and four releasing [hands], turning to the left, at the end of which they will find themselves placed one at  each end of the room. Facing one another they will do two Passi presti forwards, and a Cadenza, beginning each thing with the left foot, and then with the right.

Man’s Mutanza

The man alone will do eight Seguiti battuti, and he will do the Ritarata with four Passi gravi schisciati flankingly backwards. After that they will do together four Seguiti spezzatti schisciati, two turning to the left, and two facing ahead [in prospettive], with two Passi presti forwards and a Cadenza.

The Lady will do the same Mutanza, and together they will do the movements described above.

Second Mutanza

In the second mutanza, the Man alone will do two Seguiti battuti on each foot eight times. Then he will do the Ritarata in this manner: three Riprese, and one Trabuchetto with the left flank outwards. He will do the same with the right,  and he will do this four times, always turning himself flankingly. Then they will do together the same Seguiti schisciati, with the Passi forwards, and a Cadenza.

The Lady will do the same Mutanza, and together the same aforesaid actions.

Third Mutanza

In the third mutanza, the Man alone will do two quick beats [battute] with his feet, and one Seguito battuto, beginning with the left foot. Then he will do the same beginning with the right. He will do this four times, and together they will do the actions mentioned above.

The Lady will do the same mutanza, and together they will do the Ritarate. Then they will do twelve Seguiti schisciata, four turning to the left, and four proceeding forwards, exchanging places, with four turning likewise to the left, and with two Passi presti forwards, and a Cadenza.

Fourth mutanza.

In the fourth mutanza the Man alone will do two Seguiti battuti always with the left, with three quick beats [battute], beginning with the right foot, and another Seguito battuto with the left, turning his body a little flankingly. He will do the same beginning with the right foot to the right. He will do this four times. Then he will do the Ritarata in this manner: two Passi gravi schisciati, and three presti, beginning with the left; he will do the same begining with the right. If he has enough space in the room, he will this four times. Then they will do together the same actions mentioned above, that is, four Seguiti schisciati turning to the left, and two Passi presti forwards, and a Cadenza.

The Lady alone will do the same mutanza, and together the same actions as mentioned above.

Fifth Mutanza.

The Man alone will turn himself  to face [in prospettiva] a little to the right, and he will do with the left foot two Scisciate, first with the heel forwards, then with the toe backwards, and turning himself to face the Lady, he will do a beat [battuta] with the  same foot. He will do the same on the other side. Then he will do two Passi gravi schisciati in a straight line, with a Seguito battuto, beginning with the left foot, with two quick beats, one with the right, the other with the left, finishing with a pause. Then a Zoppetto with the said foot, and raising the right, lowering himself he will turn with the right flank back turned to the Lady, and he will do four quick beats, with two Seguiti battuti facing the Lady [in prospettiva], beginning those said Passi, and Seguiti with the right foot: he will do the same another time on the other side. Then he will do the Ritirata, that is: two Passi schisciati and a Seguito battuto, always peackocking, beginning with the left foot, and then with the right; and he will do this four times.  Then they will both turn together with the aforesaid Seguiti, and do two Passi presti forwards and a Cadenza.

The Lady alone will do the same mutanza.

Sixth mutanza.

The Man alone will do five Schisciate preste forwards, always with the left, beginning with the heel; then he will cross, or to say it better, he will put the left above the right, and he will do another two Schisciate, first with the toe, then with the heel, and raising the said foot, he will do with the same another Schisciata with the toe in a straight line: finally he will do a battuta spianata holding all on the ground the said left foot. After that he will do facing two Seguiti battuti, one with the left, the other with the right, with three quick beats [battute], beginning with the right, and another Seguito battuto with the left. He will begin the same mutanza another time on the other side; then he will do the Ritarata in this manner, that is, one Ripresa with the left  flank out, and three Trabuchetti flankingly, beginning with the left foot; and he will do the same another time on the other side, Together they will do the said Seguiti schisciati turning left, with the two Passi presti forwards, and the Cadenza.

The Lady alone will do the same mutanza; then together they will do four Seguiti schisciati turning to the left, and another eight scorsi, four taking right hands [Fe], and four releasing, and the Lady will turn around to the left with the last four, and the Man will do it opposite her; then he will take the Lady by the customary hand, and they will finish the Ballo by doing the Riverenza together. When this is finished the end of which the Man will return the Lady to her place.

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