The choreographed dances in the tracts are divided into two groups: the 'bassa danza' and the 'balli'.
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"I am bassa danza, queen of misure, I am worthy to wear the crown and few are those who can master me, and those who want to
play me well, must find inspiration from above." These verses in which Domenico da Piacenza characterizes the
bassa danza (meaning 'low' dance) show that this was the dance (and time-measure)
that was generally held in highest regard. No leaps or hopping disturb the stately tempo of this dance,
and the measure remains absolutely constant. |
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Balli, an Italian invention, are characterized by the alternation of
diverse measures within a given dance. The dancing masters made use of these
alternations to evoke the appropriate imagery for portraying a particular
story-line in music and dance.
click the image to see a typical balli called "La figlia di Guielmo" (2.4 mb) |
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