Je danse, J’apprends

This renaissance dance form has survived to this century, mostly in the British Isles and eastern US, where it’s better known as “jig.” (I’m using the earlier spelling in keeping with the composition’s French title!) I’ve dabbled in jigs before (see my String Quartet, Scherzo), but this time I’m just using a fast 6/8 tempo with a dance feel to it without any specific reference to any existing melody. I’ve also varied the tempo, adding occasional 9/8 measures, and a few duple figures as well, to make the dance association just a little less on-the-nose. Of course, the presence of a snare contributes a march-like feel.

As is my habit with this composition overall, this part will open with the percussionist leading the charge, but this time with the selected soft snare drum. Since that instrument has no variable pitch, the introduction references rhythmic “themes” which appear scattered through the entire movement.

This dance is relatively short (about 2 1/2 minutes), in ABAB song form, though the B section isn’t that long. I’ve built the piece using lots of pieces and parts — there is no melody per se, and the tonality moves, as is my habit, by intervals rather than progressions.

Below is the complete gigue (as of 4/9/2023). As always, this is subject to change!

Go to Dance #3: Gavotte
Go to Je danse, J’apprends project home page.