Dances of the French Courts:

16th century Dance, Music and Songs from France

Dances of the French Courts is a collection of dances and their music from the reign of François I (1515-1547) to that of the young Louis XIII in 1614. It offers a range of dances from the easiest to the most challenging that were danced by both elite and bourgeois levels of French society. The repertoire was influenced by Italian dancing masters, and then in turn the French practice was followed in England.

There are only two surviving dance instruction manuals from the French Renaissance: Thoinot Arbeau’s Orchésographie with his ingenious method of matching steps to music and an anonymous manuscript Instruction pour Dancer of around 1612 with no music or guidance to steps. This book includes branles from Arbeau, as well as a reconstruction of a suite of branles in the 1612 manuscript, showing the change in their performance across time. This book also describes the courante, pavane, allemande and volte, as well as the improvised solo couple dances of the gaillarde, passemeze and Pavan d’Espagne. Examples of the mascarades and ballets are also included.

Instructions are given for each dance, along with music notation, and there are notes on the relevant steps.
Several short essays provide insight into the practice of dancing in France across this period.

An excellent CD is included with the book, containing music for all the dances, played on period instruments.

The CD was recorded by Passomezzo
directed by Tamsin Lewis (Renaissance violin, alto, tambourine)
with Eleanor Cramer (soprano, bass viol), Robin Jeffrey (cittern, lute, tenor),
Alison Kinder (tenor and bass viols, recorder), Lynda Sayce (lute, recorder, tenor viol),
Richard Thomas (cornetto), Richard de Winter (bass, tenor).

Track list for the included CD

1. Basse Dance: Pascience
2. Bransle
3. Branle d’Ecosse
4. L’Allemande
5. Spagnioletta
6. Passemeze
7. Le Balet Comique de la Royne: premier balet
8. La Gaillarde: ‘Si j’aime ou non’
9. La Gaillarde: ‘J’aimerois dormir seulette’
10. La Volte
11. La Courante
12. Branle de Cassandre
13. Branle de Malte
14. Gavottes
15. Pavane d’Espagne
16. Pavane
17. Nuova Regina
18. So Ben Mi Chi Ha Buon Tempo
19. Ballet des Coqs
20. Suite de Branles: Le branle simple
21. Suite de Branles: Le branle gai
22. Suite de Branles: Le branle de Poictu
23. Suite de Branles: Le double de Poictu
24. Suite de Branles: Le branle de Montiranday
25. La Bouree
26. La Boesme
27. La Danse du Chandelier
28. La Canarie

Note that if digital download is selected, the book is supplied in PDF format and the CD is supplied in MP3 format.

All rights reserved, public performance or broadcasting without permission is prohibited. When used for teaching, recognition must be given to The Historical Dance Society.
℗ 2025 & © 2025 The Historical Dance Society