French Renaissance Dance Music - Pierre Attaingnant

[Cronban]

Hi toilage!
Thank you very much for these tracks!
I like this music this music very much, especially Attaingnant...
just a question: what accompaniment style do you use for them?
Thank you again.
cronban

 

[toilage]

Hi Cronban !

Hi Cronban, thanks for your interest ! I apply the common BPM for the dances, as Basse Dance 50 - 55, Tourdion 69 - 76, Pavane around 50, Gaillarde 63 - 69, Branle Simple et Double 112 -122, and Branle Gay not to fast, 80 - 88. I choose Latin-Cuba Bolero between 120 and 145 for Basse Dance (or Jazz slow swing) . Latin Bossa fits well with binary Branles. Equalization allows you to listen drums or bass, according to your wish. I try different accompaniment, but I think that Latin one is close to 1547's spirit. I'm posting other dances soon. Sincerely yours

 

[toilage]

Branle Simple 17

It sounds like a war calling : four voices walking at the same pace. Branle Simple 17 - Attaingnant

 

[toilage]

Branle Simple 18

Simple song, but simplest things are the most hard to reach, I could say in french, "à atteindre". Branle Simple 18 Que l'amour cause de peines - Attaingnant

 

[toilage]

Basse Dance 19

A beautiful bunch of melodies. The "dessus" or "superius" or "soprano" (all the same) , after opening and ascending Dm dorian scale, develops its self path beyond notes. Basse Dance 19 - Attaingnant

 

[toilage]

Branle 20 L'espoir que j'ay

Very simple, almost a sketch of music, ending in Bb. Branle Simple 20 L' espoir que j' ay - Attaingnant

 

[toilage]

Branle Simple 21

Insisting minor third, and the typical rythmical pattern called anapaest, i.e. short short long. A very dynamic one, and an occasion to say that the stress of Branle music should be marked on the second measure, not on the first. All the book is made on the dialog between up and down, "levé" et "posé" fr. You understand why fiddles and bows are relevant for dancing music. Branle Simple 21 - Attaingnant

 

[toilage]

Branle Gay 22 Mari, Je songeois l'aultre jour

Perhaps this piece fits well with the former one. A wonderful, powerful music, adapted from a "maumariée", "bad-married" song."Husband, I thought somedays...that I wanted to see you dead". Branle Gay 22 Mari je songeois l' aultre jour - Attaingnant

 

[toilage]

Branle Gay 23

After the sad words, this tune is a happy song, as we say in french "guilleret". A high sounding tune, because even bass is written in treble key. Branle Gay 23 - Attaingnant

 

[toilage]

Branle Double 24

Such tunes are like children's games, simple to catch, but hard to play with a keen mind. Branle Double 24 - Attaingnant

 

[toilage]

Branle Double 25

Interesting Branle : some voices of this tune seems to repeat always the same notes, but you have to deal with this breathless accompaniment. Branle Double 25 - Attaingnant

 

[toilage]

Branle double 26 A Paris y-a-t-une vieille

A tune very near from a well-known french song : "A Paris y-a-t-une vieille". "In Paris town lives an old Lady". Humoristic words sand good music as well ! Branle Double 26 - Attaingnant

 

[toilage]

Branle 27 (de Champaigne)

Branle de Champaigne : denomination doesn't lead to the country the tune is coming from. We know very few about the way tunes are called, so many variations being possible. Branle de Champaigne 27 - Attaingnant

 

[toilage]

Branle Courant 28

As the Branle Gay, the Branle Courant is played in a triple meter. Branle Courant 28 - Attaingnant

 

[toilage]

Basse Dance 29 Auprès de Vous

The melody is so simple and so clear, it helps you to seek some adds and grace notes. Basse Dance 29 Auprès de vous - Attaingnant
The title of the song is "Amongst you"

 

[toilage]

Tourdion 30 C'est grand plaisir

Two tourdions with a lively spirit, the first is in Am. Tourdion 30 C'est grand plaisir - Attaingnant

 

[toilage]

Tourdion 31 Vous aurez tout ce qui est myen

High level of complication between the two leads, in part B. If you had a poor idea of Renaissance misic, just have a look on this tourdion. Tourdion 31 Vous aurez tout ce qui est mien - Attaingnant Title means "You'll have all my goods".

 

[toilage]

Basse Dance 32

A peaceful Basse Dance, in the key of G, so good for fiddlers. Basse Dance 32 - Attaingnant

 

[toilage]

Basse Dance 33 Content désir

Regular rests let you breathe, listen to the resonating chords. You can fill rests with drums, as an answer. Basse Dance 33 Content désir - Attaingnant

 

[toilage]

Basse Dance 34 Par fin despit

Always the same trustful atmosphere, but a strange end to this tune, like an answerless question. The title "Par fin despit" or "Par fin despit je m'en iray seulette" talks about loneliness. Basse Dance 34 Par fin despit - Attaingnant