Whistle While You Dance: Sung Branles of 16th Century France/Branles of Mystery

TWO CLASSES: Saturday, March 6 @ 3 p.m. / Sunday, March 7 @ 3 p.m. Can you sing or play an instrument and dance at the same time? Yes you can! These delightful and ubiquitous dances from the turn of the 16th century will challenge your memory, balance, coordination, and appetite for fun with their deceptively simple and repetitive step patterns. Hands and voices will be free to play instruments and sing while you step. Saturday, we'll start with branles from Arbeau's very detailed “Orchesographie” (1589). and their corresponding tunes—some of which may be familiar to you. Sunday we’ll decipher some trickier branles from the far more cryptic De Lauze manuscript (1623) to Terpsichore by Praetorius. Music notation (modern notation treble clef melody lines and song lyrics where applicable) will be shared with all students before the class and all are welcome to participate at will in dancing and music-making alike. All instrumentalists and singers welcome, as well as those who just gotta dance. A=440