Menuet - a bright representative of the Baroque era

Menuet - a bright representative of the Baroque era

A beautiful, graceful, graceful dance from France was able to convey to us its charm through the centuries. Such names as pavana, alemanda, galliard, gavot — only art critics know today, almost everybody has heard about minuets. This dance is capable of moving us into another era, making us feel how difficult it was for women in tight corsets and lush skirts to move, men in slippery slippers and heavy velvet camisoles. Sometimes the minuet is called an "invitation to dance", an elegant dance "conversation." Reflecting the characteristics of his era, he turned into a work of art, which we admire and admire until now.

Minuet as a product of a gallant century

It is impossible to talk about the minuet without an understanding of the era in which it appeared. XVI-XVII centuries - the heyday of baroque art (barocco translated from Italian - "quaint, strange"). The Baroque epoch is characterized by pretentiousness and ostentatious luxury of dresses, lush balls, theatrical performances, and grandiose festivities. Religious severity and restraint of the Middle Ages gave way to a new way of life - a bold, shocking, bright. Everything unusual and unnatural has become fashionable. New attitude to life - penetrated into the new dance.

Minuet is a kind of ballroom dance, but it is more appropriate to call it a small dance performance. At first it was performed by two people (a partner and a partner), but in a later era several pairs began to appear on the floor - the dance became widespread. At the same time, in the minuet, the order of entry into the dance was strictly maintained, depending on the rank. The first were always the king and queen, then the persons connected with the first persons of the state by blood ties, and, finally, other representatives of the aristocracy. In the 17th century, the minuet was the main ceremonial dance from which the ball began.

Dance history

Art critics agree that the minuet owes its appearance to the French region of Poitou (a historical region in the western part of the country). Initially it was the folk peasant dance branl. Once in palaces and aristocratic salons, he was greatly ennobled and altered. From the middle of the 17th century, the minuet is the main ballroom dance in the king’s palace.

As for the menuet word itself, there are 2 main versions about the origin of the name:

1) the minuet originated from the amener circle dance, popular in Poitou in the 14th-15th centuries (“a mener” means “lead”);

2) the minuet got its name from the word "menu" ("small, small") due to the fact that the whole dance consists of small steps that smoothly flow into each other.

Figures and schemes of the minuet

For the minuet is characterized by a three-part size 3/4. The dance was perfect for the fancy costumes and hairstyles of that era. Recall how in the 17th century looked dancing attire. Women have high hairstyles in the form of various figures, fluffy dresses with crinolines, figas. Men have pomaded wigs and rather heavy camisoles. In these costumes, dance is impossible to dance at a fast pace! Therefore, in the original version, the minuet was not very similar to the ballroom dance we were used to — rather, it was a greeting ceremony, a series of bows, movements, turns, curtsy. The dancers moved in small steps according to a given pattern.

The scenic nature of the minuet is manifested in the splendor of costumes, the static nature of the poses (there are many figures in the dance when one of the partners stands motionless), a complex choreography that implies a constant change of poses and movements. Not for nothing, so many paintings are devoted to the minuet - a dance was asked to the artist's studio!

In the 18th century, the minuet survived the "modernization". Musical size, which previously took two full measures, began to take one measure. Improvisation became permissible, a story line appeared, new, more complex movements. This type of dance is called balance-menuet.

The secret of dance charm

The formation of minuet as a ballroom court dance is closely connected with the name of the French king Louis XIV. The reign of this monarch became famous for magnificent balls, ceremonial receptions, costly amusements. Not surprisingly, in the XVI-XVII centuries, France became a trendsetter. Minuet danced the whole of Europe.

Of course, the video materials of that time did not reach us. We know about the minuet:

• descriptions (modern historical dance schools use diaries and recordings of court choreographers for reconstruction);
• from fiction (references to dance can be found in Guy de Maupassant, Pushkin, Tolstoy);
• on musical compositions (the genre found its reflection in the works of Mozart, Handel, Bach, Tchaikovsky).
• from letters and diaries of contemporaries.

It is interesting to observe how the dance was depicted in painting! In the paintings of European artists are clearly visible characteristic dance poses and figures. Almost everywhere on the canvases - one dancing couple (the rest - watching her). Also in the pictures it can be seen that the minuet was not solely the prerogative of the royal palace. He danced in parks, city garden, carnivals and just in nature.

Where to know the minuet was trained? In the Paris Royal Academy of Dance, founded in 1661 by order of Louis XIV! The best dancers engaged in the codification of court dances, developed and fixed on paper schemes, figures, techniques for dancing. In those days, they said: "Who can dance the minuet, he can do everything!"

Interesting Facts

• During the performance of the minuet the dancers move according to a certain pattern. This can be a figure in the form of a number or letter (letters S or Z).
• Minuet danced not only at the balls. He was included in opera and ballet performances, instrumental suites, sonatas and symphonies.
• The movements of the gentleman were considered more complex than those of the ladies. He needs to show his respect for his partner, gallantly take off his hat in front of her, making intricate pas with his hat.
• It is said that during the Minuet, gentlemen and ladies gave each other love notes. They managed to read them during the dance and even send a response message.
• Couples during the minuet did not join hands. Allowed to lead partner for fingertips.
• Mozart composed minuets for harpsichord at the age of six! They were recorded in a so-called notebook, specially presented to him by his father. Now Mozart’s early minuets for harpsichord are studied by children in the music school.
• Pushkin very vividly described the dance steps in the novel Arap of Peter the Great.Here there is a mention that the prince's daughter was taught the captivity of a Swedish officer by the wisdom of the minuet.
• In 2016, a group of 43 people distinguished themselves by an original performance of the minuet Mozart. They alternately threw a coin into glasses filled with liquid: the result was a recognizable melody. This video agency PARTY released for promotional purposes.

Menuet in Russia

A well-known fact: the minuet appeared in the Russian state thanks to Peter I. He brought this dance along with other wonders to the northern capital; then he and his courtiers discharged ballet-masters from European countries. In 1718, Peter signed an order for assemblies, where, among other points, it was stated: “To eat food in moderation, so that the dance would not be obstructed by weight on the belly”. Peter I himself was an excellent dancer, he loved to walk in the dance hall together with his wife - Empress Catherine.

It so happened that in France of the 18th century, the minuet lost its meaning, since the life of the upper class after the Great French Revolution changed dramatically. And in Russia, he, on the contrary, became fashionable, as he corresponded to the expression of the majestic imperial spirit, pomp, wealth and idleness of the royal court.

Menuet in the works of famous composers

Menuet can be found in the work of many composers - Russian and foreign. Let's name some of the most famous compositions.

Mozart Minuet from the opera Don Juan. A beautiful example of a classic minuet - full sound, melodic, solemn. Conquers the combination of depth and lightness - as always with Mozart.

Mozart Minuet from the opera Don Juan (listen)

Luigi Rodolfo Boccherini. Minuet. One of the most recognizable and popular tunes. It is considered an independent work, but in fact it is part of the quintet A-dur (op. 13 No. 5).

Luigi Rodolfo Boccherini. Minuet (listen)

Ignacy Paderevsky. Minuet from the cycle "Concert Humoresques". Spectacular piano piece in the spirit of old French melodies.

Minuet from the cycle "Concert Humoresques" (listen)

Haydn The Minuet of the Bull. This comic tune has acquired a whole story. According to a well-known legend, the composer composed a melody to order - for the wedding of the daughter of the butcher, for which he received a whole bull as a reward from the customer. It is hard to say whether it is true or not, but if you listen, it is characteristic that the melody itself “draws” a portrait of an awkward animal trying to dance a ballroom dance.

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Today, interest in the minuet is back. Many dance schools are trying to reconstruct the dance, using the preserved pictures, descriptions, schemes. Some modern ballet masters even invent new schemes within the framework of the genre! Modern couples dance minuet is not easy, and it's not even in costumes. This is not only an unusual pace, but also a different attitude to life. An echo of the time when people had more free time and more desire to pay attention to each other.