Minuet is a dance of the past, which became the main for new music

Minuet is a dance of kings. That's how it was characterized in the past centuries, and nothing has changed today. In the modern world only true connoisseurs of art know about the existence of such a dance, and alas, from the general public, it has irretrievably gone. Minuet is a dance that consists of slow movements, small steps, beautiful pas and curtsies. And in order to plunge into the past and find out exactly how our ancestors rested at balls, we will study in more detail the history and all the features of the minuet.

Origin of the genre

The birthplace of the minuet is the historical region of France Brittany. There he existed along with other folk dances, which, however, were also performed in aristocratic circles. The essence of it then was only that the couple moved gracefully, performing in turn small steps. Of course, such an action was always accompanied by the corresponding slow music. Even at that time, the popular French French minuet was already performed with a certain size - ¾. Many composers wrote works especially for this dance or just improvised at solemn receptions and balls.

The formation of dance in the broad popular masses

In the early 17th century, King Louis XIV of France recognized this amazing phenomenon of folk art. It was he who officially proclaimed to the whole country that the minuet was a dance. It was news that instantly spread to all the cities, and at every aristocratic court began to execute a minuet of people close to the king, counts, barons and other holders of high titles. Given the fact that in the 17-18 centuries throughout Europe and even in Russia there was a fashion for everything French, this new genre quickly gained a leading position with all the noble courts. Minuet was in favor with Peter the Great, that is, in Petersburg and Moscow, he was performed in Poland, in Great Britain. The popularity of the dance did not subside until the middle of the 19th century, while slower pas were replaced by more energetic rhythms and sharp movements.

Historical image of dance

At the dawn of its existence the minuet consisted of extremely simple, but very graceful movements. Performers performed curtsey, extended pas; They moved around the room, then approached each other, then retired. Thus, the impression was created that a minuet is not a dance, but an invitation, very gallant, flirtatious and polite. It was noteworthy that only one pair performed it. That is, the guests took turns dancing minuets - first the most notable people, then all the rest. After the dance became widespread in France and beyond, its movements became more complicated. It was important to carry out steps to the side and forward with maximum accuracy, thus building up the figures. Also there was one more important metamorphosis. Since the 17th century, the minuet is a dance that is performed by all the guests at once. The first were the kings, followed by the Dauphinas with companions, and then the other titled guests. All performers during the dance were lined up in certain figures. Most often these were the letters "Z" or "S".

The Baroque Age

During this period, the minuet suffers significant transformations. Its pace is accelerating, becoming more mobile and non-standard rhythm. If earlier the dance was performed strictly on ¾, now to this size the variation - 6/8 was added. In the Baroque era, a minuet is a dance performed at the same time by most of the guests. At the same time, all their movements should be filled with not only coquetry, but also covetousness, cunning, charisma. In order to emphasize such a "frivolous" character of the dance, people changed partners. It is also important to emphasize that in the years of the Baroque style , the first classical musical accompaniments for this dance appeared. They were divided into three parts and code. The first was two-voiced, the second - three-voiced, in the third part motives from the first were repeated. The code was small and must have been played in majeure.

Features of studying dance

It's amazing, but for all the seeming simplicity of the minuet's performance, it was previously studied for years. Children from small age were taught to move properly, developed their plasticity, grace. Each transition, every step was rehearsed with the utmost precision, because any movement in such a dance should have been easy, as if improvising, and at the same time clear, confident, coinciding with all the others. In fairness, it should be noted that the minuet is a dance that is difficult for men in the first place. They needed to remove the hat, then, as if in one movement, to lure the lady to the dance, then, without interrupting the same "breathing", put it back on her head.

As the world classics wrote

Minuet in music is not just an accompaniment for a dance, which has a certain rhythm and tempo. This is a separate genre that exists along with a sonata or a prelude. Initially, it existed as a separate form and was performed on a harpsichord or clavichord. Later it became an obligatory part of the instrumental suite. When popularity began to gain a genre like opera, the minuet became part of the overture. In the 18th century minuets already began to make whole suites. The first number was necessarily written in major, and followed by a dance in a minor.

Often this dance was alternated with others, where frets also varied. Among the composers who wrote music in this genre, it is worth mentioning IS Bach. Along with him worked Handel, J.-B. Lully and other composers of the Rococo era. Later, the authors of the Romantic era took up writing minuets. They were Beethoven (in his notes he calls the minuet "scherzo"), Gluck, Mozart, Satie, Debussy. This genre is also found in the works of Russian composers: Tchaikovsky, Glinka, Rubinstein, and others.