Many nations coexist in different languages in the world. But not only words have been spoken by people throughout history. In order to inspire their emotions and thoughts in ancient times, songs and dances were used.
Dance art on the background of the development of culture
Italian culture is of great importance against the backdrop of world achievements. The beginning of its rapid growth coincides with the birth of a new era - the Renaissance. Actually, the Renaissance arises precisely in Italy and for some time develops internally, without touching other countries. His first successes fell on the XIV-XV century. Later, Italy spread throughout Europe. The development of folklore also begins in the 14th century. The fresh spirit of art, a different attitude to the world and society, a change of values were directly reflected in folk dances.
Renaissance Impact: New Pa and Points
In the Middle Ages, Italian movements to music were performed stepwise, smoothly, with swings. The Renaissance changed its attitude towards God, which was reflected in folklore. Italian dances have gained vigor and vibrant movements. So pa "to the full stop" symbolized the earthly origin of man, his connection with the gifts of nature. And the movement “on toes” or “with a leap” identified a person’s desire for God and his glorification. The Italian dance heritage is based on them. Their combination is called "points" or "points".
Renaissance Italian folk musical instruments
Folklore works were performed to the accompaniment. The following tools were used for this:
- Harpsichord (Italian "chembalo"). First mention: Italy, XIV century.
- Tambourine (a kind of tambourine, the ancestor of the modern drum). Dancers also used it during movements.
- Violin (bow instrument originating in the 15th century). Its Italian variety is viola.
- Lute (plucked string instrument.)
- Pipes, flutes and oboes.
Dance variety
The musical world of Italy has gained diversity. The emergence of new instruments and melodies prompted energetic movements to the beat. National Italian dances were born and developed. Their names were formed, often based on the territorial principle. There were many varieties of them. The main Italian dances known today are: bergamask, galliard, saltarella, pavana, tarantella and pizza.
Bergamask: Classic Points
Bergamaska is a popular Italian folk dance of the XVI-XVII centuries, which went out of fashion after, but left the corresponding musical heritage. Home region: north of Italy, province of Bergamo. The music in this dance is fun, rhythmic. The size of a clock meter is a complex four-part. Movements - simple, smooth, paired, there may be a change between pairs in the process. Initially, folk dance fell in love with the court in the Renaissance.
His first literary mention was noticed in the play of William Shakespeare "A Midsummer Night's Dream." At the end of the XVIII century, from the dance folklore of Bergamask smoothly passes into the cultural heritage. Many composers used this style in the process of writing their works: Marco Uccelini, Solomone Rossi, Girolamo Frescobaldi, Johann Sebastian Bach.
Towards the end of the 19th century, a different interpretation of bergamaski appeared. It was characterized by a complex mixed size of musical meter, faster pace (A. Piatti, C. Debussy). Today, echoes of the folklore Bergamaski have been preserved, which they are successfully trying to translate into ballet and theater productions using the appropriate stylistic musical accompaniment.
Galliarda: cheerful dances
Galliard - an old Italian dance, one of the first folk. It appeared in the XV century. Translated means "cheerful." Actually, he is very peppy, energetic and rhythmic. It is a complex combination of five steps and jumps. This is a pair folk dance, gained popularity at aristocratic balls in Italy, France, England, Spain, Germany.
In the XV-XVI centuries galliard became fashionable due to its comic form, cheerful, immediate rhythm. Lost popularity due to evolution and transformation into a standard stiff court dance style. At the end of the XVII century, completely switched to music.
The primary galliard is characterized by a moderate pace, the length of a meter is a simple three-part. In later periods, performed with the appropriate rhythm. At the same time, the complex length of the musical meter was characteristic. Famous contemporary works in this style are characterized by a slower and calmer pace. Composers who used gallard music in their works: V. Galilei, V. Break, B. Donato, W. Bird and others.
Saltarella: Wedding Fun
Saltarella (Saltarello) - the most ancient Italian dance. He is quite funny and rhythmic. Accompanied by a combination of steps, jumps, turns and nods. Origin: from Italian saltare - "jump". The first mention of this type of folk art dates back to the XII century. Initially, it was a public dance with musical accompaniment of a simple two- or three-lobed size. Since the 18th century, it smoothly degenerated into a pair saltarella to music of complex sizes. The style has survived to this day.
In the XIX-XX century - it turned into a massive Italian wedding dance, which was danced at weddings. by the way, at that time they were often timed to harvest. In XXI - performed at some carnivals. Music in this style was developed in the compositions of many authors: F. Mendelssohn, G. Berlioz, A. Castellono, R. Barto, B. Bazurova.
Pavana: graceful solemnity
Pavana is an old Italian ballroom dance that was performed exclusively at the court. Another name is known - padowan (from the name of the Italian city of Padova; from the Latin pava - peacock). This dance is slow, graceful, solemn, artsy. The combination of movements consists of simple and double steps, curtsy and a periodic change in the arrangement of partners relative to each other. She danced not only at points, but also at the beginning of processions or ceremonies.
The Italian Pavana, having entered the court balls of other countries, has changed. She became a kind of dance "dialect." Thus, the Spanish influence led to the emergence of the “pavanilla”, and the French to the “passamezzo”. The music to which the pas were performed was slow, two-part. Percussion instruments accentuate the rhythm and important moments of the composition. The dance gradually went out of fashion, preserved in works of musical heritage (P. Attenian, I. Schein, C. Saint-Saens, M. Ravel).
Tarantella: the personification of Italian temperament
Tarantella is a folk dance of Italy, preserved to this day. He is passionate, energetic, rhythmic, cheerful, tireless. Italian tarantella dance is a hallmark of the locals. It consists of a combination of jumps (including to the side) with alternately throwing the legs forward and backward. It was named after the city of Taranto. There is also a different version. They said that people bitten by a tarantula spider were exposed to the disease - quarantine. The ailment was very similar to rabies, from which they tried to recover in the process of non-stop fast movements.
Music is performed in a simple three-part or complex size. She's fast and fun. Characteristics:
- The combination of the main instruments (including keyboards) with additional ones that are in the hands of the dancers (tambourines and castanets).
- Lack of standard music.
- Improvisation of musical instruments in the framework of a famous rhythm.
The rhythm inherent in movements was used in their compositions by F. Schubert, F Chopin, F Mendelssohn, P. Tchaikovsky. Tarantella today is a colorful folk dance, the basics of which are owned by every patriot. And in the XXI century it continues to be massively danced at cheerful family holidays and lavish weddings.
Pizzica: Clockwork Dance Fight
Pizzica is a fast Italian dance derived from tarantella. It became the dance direction of Italian folklore due to the appearance of its own distinctive features. If the tarantella is predominantly a mass dance, then the pizza has become exclusively paired. Even more groovy and energetic, he received some warlike notes. The movements of the two dancers resemble a duel in which cheerful rivals fight.
Often it is performed by ladies with several gentlemen in turn. At the same time, performing vigorous movements, the young lady expressed her originality, independence, and stormy femininity, as a result of rejecting each of them. Cavaliers succumbed to pressure, demonstrating their admiration for the woman. Such an individual special character is characteristic only of pizza. In a way, she characterizes a passionate Italian nature. Having gained popularity in the XVIII century, pizza has not lost it to this day. It continues to be performed at fairs and carnivals, family celebrations and theatrical and ballet performances.
The emergence of a new type of dance led to the creation of appropriate musical accompaniment. A “pizzicato” appears - a way of performing works on bowed stringed instruments, but not with the bow itself, but with the tweezers of the fingers. As a result, completely different sounds and melodies appear.
Italian dances in the history of world choreography
Having arisen as a folk art, having penetrated into aristocratic ballrooms, dances fell in love with society. There was a need for systematization and concretization of pa with the aim of amateur and vocational training. The first theoretical choreographers were Italians: Domenico da Piacenza (XIV-XV), Guglielmo Embreo, Fabrizio Caroso (XVI). These works, along with the refinement of movements and their stylization, served as the basis for the global development of ballet.
Meanwhile, at the origins were dancing simpletare or tarantella funny simple rural and urban residents. The temperament of Italians is passionate and lively. The era of the Renaissance is mysterious and majestic. These features characterize Italian dances. Their heritage is the basis for the development of dance art in the world as a whole. Their features are a reflection of the history, character, emotions and psychology of an entire nation through many centuries.