The dance steps of the minuet, perfected over decades, demonstrate the gallantry of gentlemen and the charm of ladies. After all, the minuet is a dance worthy of kings.
The term "minuet" comes from the French menu pas - a small step. This ancient folk dance originated from the round dance Amener, which was popular in the 15th century in the province of Poitou. And the basis of the minuet is made up of small steps, small dance steps, which led to the corresponding name.
History of occurrence
The minuet has a glorious history, such as few dances have. It is called "the king of dances and the dance of kings". The brilliant Louis XIV, the Sun King, considered this dance worthy of his greatness. The legendary Peter I did not deprive the attention of the minuet at his assemblies. And today in the dance and musical art the form of the minuet is not forgotten and, as before, brings pleasure to dancers and spectators.
The minuet flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries. Brittany is considered its homeland, where the minuet originated as a folk dance, closely associated with the song and musical culture of this area, its way of life and traditions. The simplicity of the dance, its elegance and grace contributed to the rapid spread of the minuet throughout France, including in court circles.
Special honor fell to the share of the minuet during the reign of King Louis XIV. The Sun King loved to enjoy life, spending his time in entertainment, balls and hunting. In 1650, the minuet became the leading dance of the French court. Interestingly, François-Robert Marcel, a member of the French Royal Academy of Dance, resigned from the Paris Opera, especially in order to teach the minuet to persons close to the court.
The fashion for "everything French" led to the rapid spread of the minuet in other countries. The dance entered Russia during the reign of Peter I and took pride of place among ballroom dances until the 30s of the 19th century.
Now the minuet, as a social dance, has lost its relevance, giving way to other forms and rhythms, but as a cultural phenomenon, it continues to delight with graceful dance figures and musical images.
What is a minuet?
The musical size of the minuet is three-part: 3/4, 6/8. First, the dance was performed by one couple, and then by several. The arrangement of the dancers at court balls was strictly according to ranks: the first persons of the court, the king and queen, began the procession. Behind them came the Dauphin with a noble lady of the court, and behind them the rest of the guests. The tempo of the minuet is unhurried, the movements are important, majestic, built on curtseys and bows, which created the impression not so much of a dance, but rather of an invitation to dance. The minuet included numerous solemn passages forward, backward, sideways, ceremonial greetings. Despite the seeming simplicity of movements, dance training lasted a long time, as it was necessary to thoroughly master the technique of performance. The dancers moved according to a strictly defined pattern in the form of numbers 2, 8 or the letters S and Z.
In the 18th century, with the flourishing of the Baroque style, the minuet acquired the features of mannerism, affectation, pretentiousness. The pace of the dance accelerated, the figures became more complicated, the storyline began to be seen. The minuet developed into a stage dance, and began to be actively used in ballet and opera productions.
Minuet Features
The peculiarity of the minuet is in its grace and elegance. The performers had to work on the plasticity of movements, the smoothness of transitions from pose to pose. Particular attention was paid to the softness of the hands: the bends of the hands completed the dance poses, the joining of the partners' hands was carried out smoothly, the elbows should not be raised too high.
The part of the gentleman was especially difficult: it involved manipulations with the hat. The cavalier had to elegantly take off his hat, beautifully shift it from hand to hand, and put it on beautifully again. The magnificent outfits of the dancers suggested slow, solemn movements. The cavalier had to demonstrate in every possible way respect and respect for the lady.
The grace and elegance of the minuet contributed to its longevity. Many dances that appeared simultaneously with him have sunk into oblivion. And the beautiful, majestic minuet has been pleasing to this day for more than one generation of people.
Among the various dances that were popular in previous eras, the minuet occupies a special place. This well-known modern dance appeared at the French court around the 16th century.
The name of the dance comes from the French words menu ("step", "little step") or amener (an old French dance). The minuet was the main court dance for a long time, although it was originally considered rural. During its heyday, the minuet became a high standard of court ballet.
Dance technique
. The minuet is characterized by a three-part meter and a moderate tempo. Although there were many varieties of this beautiful dance, the general idea of it was as a sedate, graceful, gallant and solemn dance. Almost always the minuet was the pearl of the balls. The dance has such features as solemn passages forward and back and sideways, small graceful steps (pa), ceremonial bows, and easy sliding. An important element of the minuet is a kind of allusion to bowing to the audience.
An exemplary manner of performing a minuet.
In order for you to better imagine the elegant technique of this dance, we will describe the bar-by-bar scheme of the minuet. On the first measure, the gentleman gives his right hand, the lady takes it with her right hand. The next four measures are a long balance-minuet. All this time, the gentleman leads the lady, the free hands of the dancers are slightly to the side and behind. Then, on the first measure, the lady removes her hand, on the next measure, the gentleman removes his hand. Then the scheme is repeated, only with a change of hands - now the left hands of the dancers are already in action. This is just one of the elements of the minuet. Of course, there are many others, for example, "watch" - the simultaneous rotation of both dancers around their axis in four basic steps.Minuet today.
The minuet has not disappeared from the dance floors. Nowadays, it is a graceful, sedate dance that has many fans. The main thing in the modern minuet is the grace of movements and exceptional gallantry. So, from the royal balls, the minuet majestically reached our times, without losing its unique movements and manner of performance.MINUET
(French menuet, from menu - small, small) - French dance. musical time 3/4. originated from the folk round dance of the province of poitou. at the end of the 17th century. became one of the main ballroom dances of court circles; entered opera and ballet performances.
Dictionary of musical terms. 2012
See also interpretations, synonyms, meanings of the word and what is MINUET in Russian in dictionaries, encyclopedias and reference books:
- MINUET in the Ethnographic Dictionary:
(French menuet from menu, small), French. dance, originated from the round dance of the inhabitants of Poitou. in the 17th century spread under the royal ... - MINUET in the Dictionary of Ethnographic Terms:
(French menuet from menu, small), French. dance, originated from the round dance of the inhabitants of Poitou. In the 17th century spread at the royal court ... - MINUET in the Big Encyclopedic Dictionary:
(French menuet from menu - small), an old French folk dance, from the middle. 17th century ballroom. Spread across Europe. Musical size... - MINUET in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
(French menuet, from menu - small, small), French dance. It comes from the folk dance of the province of Poitou. From the 2nd half of the 17th century. … - MINUET in the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Euphron:
Minuet (French - menuet, Italian miouetto, from the French word menu or Latin minutus - small, small) is an old graceful dance called ... - MINUET in the Modern Encyclopedic Dictionary:
- MINUET
(French menuet), 1) an old French dance (3-beat), in European countries in the middle of the 17th - 19th centuries. ballroom. 2) Part of an instrumental suite, ... - MINUET in the Encyclopedic Dictionary:
a, m. An old French ballroom dance of a smooth, somewhat cutesy character, built mainly on bows and curtsies. Minuet - pertaining to ... - MINUET in the Encyclopedic Dictionary:
, -a, m. Ancient French folk and ballroom dance, as well as music in the rhythm of this dance. II adj. minuet, -th, ... - MINUET in the Big Russian Encyclopedic Dictionary:
MINUET (French menuet, from menu - small), an old plank. French dance, from ser. 17th century ballroom. Spread across Europe. Muses. … - MINUET in the Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron:
(French ? menuet, Italian ? minuetto, from the French word menu or Latin minutus ? small, small) ? ancient graceful dance, ... - MINUET in the Full accentuated paradigm according to Zaliznyak:
menue "t, menue" you, menue "ta, menue" tov, menue "tu, menue" there, menue "t, menue" you, menue "tom, menue" tami, menue "those, ... - MINUET in the Popular Explanatory-Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Russian Language:
-a, m. 1) An old French dance at a moderate pace with smooth and slow movements, as well as music for this dance. … - MINUET in the New Dictionary of Foreign Words:
(French menuet menu small, shallow) an old French ballroom dance of a smooth, somewhat cutesy character, built mainly on bows and ... - MINUET in the Dictionary of Foreign Expressions:
[fr. menuet is an old French ballroom dance of a smooth, somewhat cutesy character, built mainly on bows and curtsies; music size - … - MINUET in the dictionary of Synonyms of the Russian language.
- MINUET in the New explanatory and derivational dictionary of the Russian language Efremova:
m. 1) An old French ballroom dance, characterized by smooth and slow movements and consisting mainly of bows and curtsies. 2) ... - MINUET in the Dictionary of the Russian Language Lopatin:
menu, … - MINUET in the Complete Spelling Dictionary of the Russian Language:
minuet... - MINUET in the Spelling Dictionary:
menu, … - MINUET in the Dictionary of the Russian Language Ozhegov:
an old French folk and ballroom dance, as well as music in the rhythm of this minuet dance! old french folk and ballroom … - MINUET in the Dahl Dictionary:
husband. , French outdated... - MINUET in the Modern Explanatory Dictionary, TSB:
(French menuet, from menu - small), an old French folk dance, from the middle. 17th century ballroom. Spread across Europe. Musical size...
Minuet - a bright representative of the Baroque era
A beautiful, elegant, graceful dance originally from France has managed to convey its charm to us through the centuries. Such names as pavane, alemanda, galliard, gavotte - today only art historians know, about the minuet - almost everyone has heard. This dance is able to take us to another era, to make us feel how difficult it was for women to move in tight corsets and fluffy skirts, for men in slippery shoes and heavy velvet camisoles. Sometimes the minuet is called an "invitation to dance", an elegant dance "conversation". Reflecting the characteristic features of his era, he turned into a work of art that we admire and admire to this day.
Minuet as a product of the gallant age
It is impossible to talk about the minuet without understanding the era in which it appeared. XVI-XVII centuries - the heyday of baroque art (barocco translated from Italian - "bizarre, strange"). The baroque era is characterized by pretentiousness and ostentatious luxury of outfits, magnificent balls, theatrical performances, grandiose festivities. The religious strictness and restraint of the Middle Ages gave way to a new way of life - bold, outrageous, bright. Everything unusual and unnatural has become fashionable. A new attitude to life has penetrated into the new dance.
The 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 couples began to go out on the floor - the dance became massive. At the same time, the order in which couples entered the dance, depending on the rank, was strictly preserved in the minuet. The king and queen always went first, 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 that started the ball.
History of dance
Art historians 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 a folk peasant dance branle. Once in palaces and aristocratic salons, he was significantly ennobled and modified. Since the middle of the 17th century, the minuet has been the main ballroom dance in the king's palace.
As for the word menuet itself, there are 2 main versions about the origin of the name:
1) the minuet originated from the round dance amener, popular in Poitou in the 14th-15th centuries (“a mener” means “to 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 smoothly flowing into each other.
Figures and diagrams of the minuet
The minuet is in three beats in 3/4. The dance was perfect for the frilly costumes and hairstyles of the era. Let's remember how the outfits of the dancers looked in the 17th century. For women - high hairstyles in the form of various figures, puffy dresses with crinolines, fizhma. The men wear pomaded wigs and rather heavy camisoles. In such costumes, it is impossible to dance at a fast pace! Therefore, in the original version, the minuet had little resemblance to the ballroom dance familiar to us - rather, a greeting ceremony, a series of bows, movements, turns, and curtsies. The dancers moved in small steps according to a given pattern.
The stage character of the minuet is manifested in the splendor of the costumes, the static poses (there are many figures in the dance when one of the partners is standing still), complex choreography, which implied a constant change of poses and movements. It is not for nothing that so many paintings are devoted to the minuet - the dance was asking to be in the artist's studio!
In the 18th century, the minuet experienced a "modernization". The time signature, which previously took two full measures, began to take one measure. Improvisation became acceptable, a storyline appeared, new, more complex movements. This kind of dance is called balance-menuet.
The secret of the charm of dance
The formation of the 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, solemn receptions, expensive amusements. Not surprisingly, in the XVI-XVII centuries, France became a trendsetter. The whole Europe danced the minuet.
Of course, no video footage of that time has come down to us. We know about the minuet:
- according to descriptions (modern historical dance schools use diaries and notes of court choreographers for reconstruction);
- from fiction (mentions about dance can be found in Guy de Maupassant, Pushkin, Tolstoy);
- by 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, characteristic dance poses and figures are clearly visible. Almost everywhere on the canvases there is one dancing couple (the rest are watching her). It is also clear from the paintings that the minuet was not exclusively the prerogative of the royal palace. It was danced in parks, the city garden, at carnivals and just in nature.
Where did you learn the minuet? In the Paris Royal Academy of Dance, founded in 1661 by order of Louis XIV! The best dancers were engaged in the codification of court dances, developed and recorded on paper schemes, figures, and techniques for dancing. In those days they said: “Who knows how to dance the minuet, he can do everything!”
Interesting Facts
- During the performance of the minuet, the dancers move in a certain pattern. It can be a figure in the form of a number or a letter (letters S or Z).
- The minuet was danced not only at balls. He was included in operatic And ballet performances, instrumental suites, sonatas and symphonies.
- The movements of the gentleman were considered more complex than those of the lady. He needs to demonstrate his respect for his partner, gallantly take off his hat in front of her, making intricate steps with his headdress.
- It is said that during the minuet gentlemen and ladies passed love notes to each other. They managed to read them during the dance and even convey a response message.
- Couples during the minuet did not join hands. It was allowed to lead the partner by the fingertips.
- Mozart composed minuets for harpsichord at the age of six! They were recorded in the so-called music notebook, specially donated to him by his father. Now the early minuets of Mozart for harpsichord are studied by children at the music school.
- Pushkin very vividly described the dance steps in the novel Peter the Great's Moor. There is also a mention here that a captive Swedish officer taught the prince's daughter the wisdom of the minuet.
- In 2016, a group of 43 people distinguished themselves by their original performance of Mozart's minuet. They alternately threw a coin into glasses filled with liquid: the result was a recognizable melody. This video was released by the PARTY agency for promotional purposes.
Minuet in Russia
A well-known fact: the minuet appeared in the Russian state thanks to Peter I. He brought this dance, along with other curiosities, to the northern capital; then he and his courtiers ordered choreographers from European countries. In 1718, Peter signed an order on assemblies, where, among other points, it was stated: "Eat dishes in moderation, so that the belly does not cause dances that have become heavy obstacles." Peter I himself was an excellent dancer, he liked to walk around the dance hall in a pair with his wife, Empress Catherine.
It so happened that in France in the 18th century, the minuet lost its meaning, as the life of the upper class after the French Revolution changed dramatically. And in Russia, on the contrary, it became fashionable, as it corresponded to the expression of the majestic imperial spirit, pomp, wealth and idleness of the royal court.
Minuet in the works of famous composers
The minuet 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 Giovanni". An excellent example of a classic minuet - full-sounding, melodic, solemn. Conquers with a combination of depth and lightness - as always with Mozart.
Mozart. Minuet from the opera "Don Giovanni" (listen)
Luigi Rodolfo Boccherini. Minuet. One of the most recognizable and popular melodies. It is considered an independent work, but in fact it is part of the A-dur quintet (op. 13 no. 5).
Luigi Rodolfo Boccherini. Minuet (listen)
Ignacy Paderewski. Minuet from the cycle "Concert Humoresques". Spectacular piano piece in the spirit of old French melodies.
Minuet from the cycle "Concert humoresques" (listen)
Haydn. Bull Minuet. This comic melody has acquired a whole story. According to a well-known legend, the composer composed a melody to order - for the wedding of the butcher's daughter, for which he received a whole bull as a reward from the customer. Like it or not, it's hard to say, but if you listen, it's typical that the melody itself "draws" us a portrait of a clumsy animal trying to dance a ballroom dance.
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Today, interest in the minuet is returning. Many dance schools are trying to reconstruct the dance using preserved pictures, descriptions, and diagrams. Some modern choreographers even come up with new schemes within the genre! It’s not easy for modern couples to dance the minuet, and it’s not even about the 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.
Video: watch Minuet
(pas menus). Derived from the slow waltz (the so-called menuet de la chaîne) - a dance from the province of Poitou. It is written in a two-fold warehouse, in a tripartite size (3/4). From the middle of the XVII century - ballroom. Since the 17th century, it has spread widely throughout Europe.
Historical overview
Minuet in the works of composers
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the pure musical form of the minuet was quite widely represented in harpsichord, clavier and chamber music (Francois Couperin ("The Great"), Jean Philippe Rameau (no less great, and maybe even more, but without the same "title") , Andre Campra and other composers of the Rococo era). As an "obligatory" part, the minuet was included in the instrumental suite (Bach, Handel), sometimes even in the opera overture as the final section (only in Handel), and then for some time "fixed" in the sonata-symphony cycle (usually occupied the third part in a four-part cycle). In a suite, quite often the first minuet was followed by a second, in the same key or in the key of a fifth below the main one (but not a fifth above). If the first minuet is in major, then the second is often written in the minor of the same name. The second minuet was most often called trio.
Later, the minuet form was developed in the operas and ballets of Gluck and the early symphonies of Haydn, in which the minuet often acquires a lively and cheerful character, approaching in character a peasant dance. Haydn was the first to introduce the minuet into his symphonies. [ ] Mozart introduced lyrical and sometimes even masculine intonations into the minuet. Beethoven replaced the minuet with the scherzo in his later symphonies. Later, in the 19th century, minuets were written by Tchaikovsky, Glazunov, Debussy, Satie and other composers.
Of the Russian composers, Glinka and Rubinstein also wrote outstanding minuets. At present, the minuet, as a dance, has gone out of fashion, but the form of the minuet in music, ballet and dance art is by no means forgotten.
