Tempo in Baroque Music and Dance
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1
Ghent University, Dept. of Musicology, Belgium
Tempo is an essential aspect of dance performance. In baroque dance specific dance steps and the character of the different dances demand a specific tempo. However, in musical performance practice the tempo variation within one dance can be very large.
This study consists of two parts. In the first part musicians were asked to interpret a series of dances starting from the score. Later, dancers joined the ensemble and the evolution of tempo was measured. This showed that musicians are immediately influenced by the dancers, but that explicit feedback of the dancers is necessary to come to an optimal tempo.
In the second part of the study dancers are asked to make specific dance steps while the tempo of the music is varied. Both a measurement of their movements and a subjective evaluation of their experience were studied. The tempo restrictions for different steps were determined, as well as the optimal tempo based on the subjective evaluation of the dancers.
In general we see that the interpretation of baroque dance music by musicians does not always fit the original choreography and character. Yet, this study shows that tempo is an essential factor in historical performance practice. It provides a direct link between music and movement and thus gives a clear illustration of the importance of musical embodiment.
Keywords:
baroque dance,
music performance,
music and dance,
movement analysis,
tempo and timing
Conference:
14th Rhythm Production and Perception Workshop Birmingham 11th - 13th September 2013, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 11 Sep - 13 Sep, 2013.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Rhythm Production and Perception
Citation:
Coorevits
E and
Moelants
D
(2013). Tempo in Baroque Music and Dance.
Conference Abstract:
14th Rhythm Production and Perception Workshop Birmingham 11th - 13th September 2013.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2013.214.00033
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Received:
12 Jul 2013;
Published Online:
24 Sep 2013.
*
Correspondence:
Dr. Dirk Moelants, Ghent University, Dept. of Musicology, Ghent, 9000, Belgium, dirk@moelants.net