Born: November 22, 1710, WeimarDied: July 1, 1784, Berlin (age 73)
glossary
bourrée [F], borea [I]—A French dance in quick double time typically beginning on an upbeat
chamber music, Kammermusik [G], musique de chambre [F], musica da camera [I], musica cameralis [L]—"Classical Music" for a small ensemble, generally 8 or fewer players with a canonical emphasis on 3-6 players. explore
gavotte, gavotta—Originally a French folk dance that became a courtly dance with Louis XIV and subsequently used in Baroque suites. Moderate tempo in duple rhythm often beginning on an upbeat in a pick-up measure.
gigue, jig, giga, gigg—A lively dance (of English origin); often the finale of a Baroque suite. Compound meters exhibit both duple and triple meter rhythms.
loure—A 16th century French dance in moderate 6/4 time with dotted rhythms emphasizing the strong beats. May be related to the fact that "Loure" was also a name for the bagpipe perhaps used to accompany the dance.
minuet, menuet [F], Menuett [G], menuetto [I], minuetto [I]—A graceful, courtly French dance of the Baroque and Classical period with a triple meter and a moderate tempo.It was introduced at the court of Louis XIV. In classical forms such as the symphony or chamber music, the minuet evolved into the more vigorous scherzo.
partita [I], parthia, partie—originally, an instrumental piece as well as, more specifically, a variation. Eventually, a synonym for suite.
prelude, prélude, präludium [G], präludien [G, pl], praeludium, preludio—a movement preceding another almost by way of introduction: to let listeners and players acclimate, often to prepare for greater demands ahead
rondeau, rondeaux—An early Baroque instrumental form featuring a recurring refrain interspersed with contrasting couplets or episodes. Eventually transformed into the Rondo of the classical period.
suite—a set of instrumental pieces (movements) played together to create a larger whole. Suites tend towards collections of dances, frequently in the same key, preceded by a prelude, introduction or overture.