[Bg-dance] Bransles

[Charlene Charette]

tmcd at panix.com wrote:

> Oy!  Perronnelle!  I know you're lurking -- I can hear you pavaning.

Sorry for the delay.  I was at Urbino for two weeks then caught a nasty 
bug and was miserable for the next two.  Trying to get caught up on a 
month's worth of email and such.


> Wait, just found an answer to the first question I had:
>     Double to the left and kick kick
>     Double to the right and
>     Double to the left and kick kick
>     Double to the right and
>     Double to the left and kick kick
>     Single to the right kick kick kick
>     Single to the left kick kick kick
>     Double to the right again
> is Bransle Charlotte.

Yup; assuming your kicks are on the correct feet.


> Hermit's Bransle.  The chorus I learned (best I remember since it was
> years ago) was: turn single 180 degrees with four kicks, then cross
> arms over the chest and bow twice from the waist, then again to face
> the center of the circle.
> 
> You give the chorus (aside from three kicks while turning) as
>     with arms crossed over the chest and bowing, touch right toe to
>     left instep, then left toe to right instep, then right toe to left
>     instep and close

When you say "you give the chorus" which source are you quoting?  I've 
written up dances for many booklets.

> One bow?
> 
> Any suggestions on how you do that footwork in any reasonable way?
> When I tried it on my own with the rather sprightly music, it looked
> like I was doing the Twist.  I don't mind waggling my butt while
> dancing, but I prefer to be in a gay bar instead of at the Wells
> Branch Community Center.  A version I Googled had touching the toe to
> the heel, which led me to end up looking like I was kicking each foot
> forward in turn, which at least looks more dignified.

I don't usually do this dance.  From the Evans/Sutton translation of 
Arbeau (I've summarized/translated the tabulation):

==========

Arbeau:  I shall include the Hermits' branle, so called because it 
contains gestures resembling those made by hermits in greeting, among 
the mimed branles.  I believe that it originally derived from some 
masquerade in which the young men were dressed in garments like those 
worn by hermits.  But I do not advise you to wear such habits for fancy 
dress, nor to mimic the behaviour of a Religious Order, because one 
should respect both their cloth and their persons.  On this occasion, 
however, I shall hold my peace.
<snip>
This branle was danced in moderate duple time in the manner shown below.

double left / double right / double left / double right

[ kick right / kick left / kick right / feet together ]
during these steps the dancers make a half turn to the left and face 
outwards

[ marque pied right / marque pied left / marque pied right / feet together ]
during these steps the dancers cross their arms and bow their heads as 
young novices do

[ kick right / kick left / kick right / feet together ]
during these steps the dancers make a half turn to the left and face 
inwards as they did at the beginning

[ marque pied droit / marque pied left / marque pied right / feet together ]
during these four steps the dancers bow their heads as we have said above

"Marque pied" is described thusly:
Arbeau:  Sometimes, when one foot has taken the body's weight and is 
placed in position to suport it*, the toe of the other foot is brought 
close up against the foot on the ground.  This movement is called marque 
pied, to wit, marque pied droit [right] when the right toe performs the 
  movement and marque pied gauche [left] when the left toe does.

* Sutton footnote:
The French for this passage reads ....  This indicates a leap or hop 
<i>onto<i> the supporting foot, a fact that is not made clear in the 
translation.

==========

I just tried the dance to the Orchesograpie CD (which recording are you 
using?).  My toe is ending up around the instep of the other foot.  I 
think trying to get the toe to the heel of the other foot is putting too 
much twist in the movement.  Personally, I think the marque pied can 
look similar to a little kid hopping because he has to use the toilet.

It's a bit difficult to describe and troubleshoot in writing.  Does the 
above help any?  If not, ask more questions and I'll to answer them.

--Perronnelle

-- 
Jock:  A strapping young fellow who instinctively knows that his knack 
for teamwork and disdain for academics will someday catapult him into 
the corporate boardroom.  -- Bayan, Rick; The Cynic's Dictionary, 2002