The bourrée (; ; also in England, borry or bore) is a
dance
Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
of French origin and the words and music that accompany it. The bourrée resembles the
gavotte
The gavotte (also gavot, gavote, or gavotta) is a French dance, taking its name from a folk dance of the Gavot, the people of the Gap, Hautes-Alpes, Pays de Gap region of Dauphiné in the southeast of France, where the dance originated, accordin ...
in that it is in
double time and often has a
dactylic rhythm. However, it is somewhat quicker, and its
phrase
In grammar, a phrasecalled expression in some contextsis a group of words or singular word acting as a grammatical unit. For instance, the English language, English expression "the very happy squirrel" is a noun phrase which contains the adject ...
starts with a quarter-bar
anacrusis
In poetic and musical meter, and by analogy in publishing, an anacrusis (from , , literally: 'pushing up', plural ''anacruses'') is a brief introduction. In music, it is also known as a pickup beat, or fractional pick-up, i.e. a note or seque ...
or "pick-up", whereas a gavotte has a half-bar anacrusis.
In the
Baroque era
The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from the early 17th century until the 1750s. It followed Renaissance art and Mannerism and preceded the Rococo (i ...
, after the Academie de Dance was established by
Louis XIV
LouisXIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 5 September 16381 September 1715), also known as Louis the Great () or the Sun King (), was King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. His verified reign of 72 years and 110 days is the List of longest-reign ...
in 1661,
[
] the French court adapted the bourrée, like many such dances, for the purposes of
concert dance
Concert dance (also known as performance dance or theatre dance in the United Kingdom) is dance performed for an audience. It is frequently performed in a theatre setting, though this is not a requirement, and it is usually choreographed and perf ...
. In this way it gave its name to a
ballet
Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...
step
characteristic of the dance, a rapid movement of the feet while
en pointe
Because ballet became formalized in France, a significant part of ballet terminology is in the French language.
A
À la seconde
() (Literally "to second") If a step is done "à la seconde", it is done to the side. 'Second position'. It can also ...
or demi-pointe, and so to the sequence of steps called .
The bourrée became an optional movement in the
classical suite of dances, and
J. S. Bach,
Handel
George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti.
Born in Halle, Germany, H ...
and
Chopin wrote bourrées, not necessarily intending them to be danced.
History
The bourrée originates in
Auvergne
Auvergne (; ; or ) is a cultural region in central France.
As of 2016 Auvergne is no longer an administrative division of France. It is generally regarded as conterminous with the land area of the historical Province of Auvergne, which was dis ...
in France. It is sometimes called the "French
clog dance" or a "
branle
A branle ( , ), also bransle, brangle, brawl(e), brall(e), braul(e), brando (in Italy), bran (in Spain), or brantle (in Scotland), is a type of France, French dance popular from the early 16th century to the present, danced by couples in either ...
of the
sabots". First mentioned as a popular dance in 1665 in
Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand (, , ; or simply ; ) is a city and Communes of France, commune of France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions of France, region, with a population of 147,284 (2020). Its metropolitan area () had 504,157 inhabitants at the 2018 ...
, it still survives in Auvergne in the
Massif Central and in the department of
Ariège and is danced during
bals folk in France and in other countries. The present-day dance in lower Auvergne, also called Montagnarde (''Montanhardas''), is in triple time while that of high Auvergne called Auvergnate (''Auvernhatas'') is in double time. Modern variants termed bourrées are danced as
partner dance
file:Tanzturnier 28.JPG, Ballroom dancers performing the tango.
file:dance-At-Bougival.jpg, upPartner dance, ''Dance at Bougival'' by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1883
Partner dances are dances whose basic choreography involves coordinated dancing of t ...
s,
circle dance
Circle dance, or chain dance, is a style of social dance done in a circle, semicircle or a curved line to musical accompaniment, such as rhythm instruments and singing, and is a type of dance where anyone can join in without the need of Partne ...
s,
square dance
A square dance is a dance for four couples, or eight dancers in total, arranged in a square, with one couple on each side, facing the middle of the square. Square dances are part of a broad spectrum of dances known by various names: country dan ...
s and
line dance
A line dance is a choreographed dance in which a group of people dance along to a repeating sequence of dance step, steps while arranged in one or more lines or rows. These lines usually face all in the same direction, or less commonly face each ot ...
s.
However bourrées have been composed as abstract musical pieces since the mid-16th century.
Michael Praetorius
Michael Praetorius (probably 28 September 1571 – 15 February 1621) was a German composer, organist, and Music theory, music theorist. He was one of the most versatile composers of his age, being particularly significant in the development of ...
mentions it in his ''
Syntagma musicum'' and it is one of the dances arranged for his collection ''
Terpsichore
In Greek mythology, Terpsichore (; , "delight in dancing") is one of the nine Muses and goddess of dance and chorus. She lends her name to the word " terpsichorean", which means "of or relating to dance".
Appearance
Terpsichore is usually d ...
''. However, there is no early
dance notation
Dance notation is the symbolic representation of human dance movement and form, using methods such as graphic symbols and figures, path mapping, numerical systems, and letter and word notations. Several dance notation systems have been invent ...
and it is difficult to assess the early interaction of the folk dance and the courtly dance. Musically, the bourrée took on the common
binary form
Binary form is a musical form in 2 related sections, both of which are usually repeated. Binary is also a structure used to choreograph dance. In music this is usually performed as A-A-B-B.
Binary form was popular during the Baroque music, Baro ...
of classical dance movements, sometimes extended by a second bourrée, the two to be played in a grand
ternary form
Ternary form, sometimes called song form, is a three-part musical form consisting of an opening section (A), a following section (B) and then a repetition of the first section (A). It is usually schematized as A–B–A. Prominent examples inclu ...
A–(A)–B–A.
Marguerite de Navarre
Marguerite de Navarre (, ''Marguerite d'Alençon''; 11 April 149221 December 1549), also known as Marguerite of Angoulême and Margaret of Navarre, was a princess of France, Duchess of Alençon and Berry, and Queen of Navarre by her second mar ...
, who was the wife of the King of Navarre and sister to the King of France, introduced the dance to the French court in 1565 and it was popular until the reign of Louis XIII (1601–1643) and opened many balls, but the bourrée took some time to appear in the early ballet
dance notation
Dance notation is the symbolic representation of human dance movement and form, using methods such as graphic symbols and figures, path mapping, numerical systems, and letter and word notations. Several dance notation systems have been invent ...
of the
French baroque theatre. The step with two movements is not illustrated by
Feuillet but appears in
Rameau as the "true" pas de bourrée, the simpler step, with one movement, is identified with the ''fleuret''. The basic step, with one initial movement (i.e. a plié on the supporting leg) and three subsequent changes of weight in a measure, can be performed in a great many variations, and varieties of this step appear commonly throughout the notated dances that were published in the eighteenth century, starting with
Feuillet in 1700.
The minuet step is a pas composé, a step composed of more basic steps. The pas de bourrée of one movement is the second half of the most common minuet step, the minuet step of two movements, or "one and a fleuret", as the English master Tomlinson described it. The rare pas de bourrée of two movements, mentioned above, occurs as a graceful variation in some recorded passepied, as part of a minuet step of three movements.

As later formalised in
classical ballet
Classical ballet is any of the traditional, formal styles of ballet that exclusively employ classical ballet technique. It is known for its aesthetics and rigorous technique (such as en pointe, pointe work, turnout (ballet), turnout of the legs, ...
the skipping step of the bourrée became a quick, gliding step, often ''
en pointe
Because ballet became formalized in France, a significant part of ballet terminology is in the French language.
A
À la seconde
() (Literally "to second") If a step is done "à la seconde", it is done to the side. 'Second position'. It can also ...
'' or ''demi-pointe'', one of the most-used step sequences of ballet. A ''pas de bourrée'', more commonly known as the "behind side front" or "back side front", is a quick sequence of movements often taken in preparation for a larger step. In one account it begins with an extension of the first leg while ''demi plié'', closing it to the second as both transit to ''relevé'', extending the second leg to an open position and again closing first to second in ''demi plié '', or with legs straight if quick or as the final step of an ''enchainement''. There are several variants. A ''pas de bourrée piqué'' picks up the feet in between steps.
In his ''Der Vollkommene Capellmeister'' (Hamburg, 1739),
Johann Mattheson
Johann Mattheson (28 September 1681 – 17 April 1764) was a German composer, critic, lexicographer and music theorist. His writings on the late Baroque and early Classical period were highly influential, specifically, "his biographical and the ...
wrote of the bourrée, "its distinguishing feature resides in contentment and a pleasant demeanor, at the same time it is somewhat carefree and relaxed, a little indolent and easygoing, though not disagreeable".
Johann Sebastian Bach often used the bourrée in his suites as one of the optional dance movements that come after the
sarabande
The sarabande (from ) is a dance in triple metre, or the music written for such a dance.
History
The Sarabande evolved from a Spanish dance with Arab influences, danced by a lively double line of couples with castanets. A dance called ''zara ...
but before the
gigue
The gigue ( , ) or giga () is a lively baroque dance originating from the English jig. It was imported into France in the mid-17th centuryBellingham, Jane"gigue."''The Oxford Companion to Music''. Ed. Alison Latham. Oxford Music Online. 6 July ...
, and he also wrote two short bourrées in his
Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach
The title ''Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach'' () refers to either of two manuscript notebooks that the German Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach presented to his second wife, Anna Magdalena. Keyboard music (minuets, rondeaux, polonaises, ...
. His
Bourrée in E minor in his
Lute Suite, BWV 996 is especially popular.
Handel wrote several bourrées in his
solo chamber sonatas (for example the fourth movement of his
Oboe sonata in C minor); however, perhaps his best-known is the seventh movement of the ''
Water Music
The ''Water Music'' (German: ''Wassermusik'') is a collection of orchestral movements, often published as three Suite (music), suites, composed by George Frideric Handel. It premiered on 17 July 1717, in response to George I of Great Britain, ...
'' (Handel) suite.
In the 19th century Frédéric Chopin and
Emmanuel Chabrier wrote bourrées for the piano (such as the latter's ''
Bourrée fantasque'', composed 1891). The Victorian English composer
Hubert Parry
Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 1st Baronet (27 February 1848 – 7 October 1918), was an English composer, teacher and historian of music. Born in Richmond Hill, Bournemouth, Parry's first major works appeared in 1880. As a composer he is ...
included a bourrée in his ''Lady Radnor Suite'' (1894).
In popular music
The bourrée has been used by a number of
pop and
rock music
Rock is a Music genre, genre of popular music that originated in the United States as "rock and roll" in the late 1940s and early 1950s, developing into a range of styles from the mid-1960s, primarily in the United States and the United Kingdo ...
bands, particularly Bach's E minor Bourrée for the lute. In 1969 both
Bakerloo and
Jethro Tull released versions of this, the former as a single, "Drivin' Bachwards", on
Harvest Records
Harvest Records is a British-American record label belonging to Capitol Music Group, originally created by EMI in 1969.
History
Harvest Records was created by EMI in 1969 to market progressive rock music, and to compete with Philips' Vertigo ...
(HAR 5004) in July and on their self-titled debut album (Harvest SHVL 762) the following December, the latter on their August album ''
Stand Up''.
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained global fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and the piano, and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John ...
also stated that
the Beatles
The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...
had known the tune for a long time and that it had inspired his song ''
Blackbird''.
Jimmy Page
James Patrick Page (born 9 January 1944) is an English musician and producer who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the Rock music, rock band Led Zeppelin.
Page began his career as a studio session musician in Lo ...
of
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones (musician), John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a he ...
often played the opening section of ''Bourrée in E minor'' as part of the solo of a live performance of ''
Heartbreaker'', and he has also described the
acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a musical instrument in the string family. When a string is plucked, its vibration is transmitted from the bridge, resonating throughout the top of the guitar. It is also transmitted to the side and back of the instrument, ...
and
recorder intro to Zeppelin's ''
Stairway To Heaven
"Stairway to Heaven" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released on 8 November 1971 on the band's untitled fourth studio album (commonly known as ''Led Zeppelin IV''), by Atlantic Records. Composed by the band's guitarist Jimmy ...
'' as "a poor man's bourrée".
Tenacious D
Tenacious D is an American comedy rock duo formed in Los Angeles in 1994 by the actors Jack Black and Kyle Gass. Their music showcases Black's theatrical vocal delivery and Gass' acoustic guitar playing. Critics have described their fusion of ...
play a short rendering in "
Rock Your Socks" on their eponymous album and in "Classico" on their second album. Rock guitarist
Blues Saraceno
Blues Saraceno (born October 17, 1971) is an American rock guitarist, composer and music producer, currently residing in Los Angeles, California. He was discovered by ''Guitar for the Practicing Musician'' magazine at the age of 16, which assis ...
plays a jazz version in the beginning and end of the track "Bouree" on his third album, ''Hairpick''.
Other adapted bourrées include:
*The instrumental "Evil Eye" from
Yngwie Malmsteen
Yngwie Johan Malmsteen (; born Lars Johan Yngve Lannerbäck, on 30 June 1963) is a Swedish-American guitarist. He first became known in the 1980s for his neoclassical metal, neoclassical playing style in heavy metal music, heavy metal, and has ...
's album ''
Rising Force'' begins with bourrée by
Johann Krieger
*The intro to the song "Totentanz" on
thrash metal
Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an Extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, ...
band
Coroner's album ''
R.I.P.'' is a bourrée composed by
Robert de Visée
Robert de Visée (1652-1730) was a French lutenist, guitarist, theorbist and viol player at the court of the kings Louis XIV and Louis XV, as well as a singer and a composer for lute, theorbo and guitar.
Biography
Robert de Visée's place and d ...
*
The Fifth Estate's "Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead" has a central section consisting of the bourrée by
Michael Praetorius
Michael Praetorius (probably 28 September 1571 – 15 February 1621) was a German composer, organist, and Music theory, music theorist. He was one of the most versatile composers of his age, being particularly significant in the development of ...
from ''
Terpsichore
In Greek mythology, Terpsichore (; , "delight in dancing") is one of the nine Muses and goddess of dance and chorus. She lends her name to the word " terpsichorean", which means "of or relating to dance".
Appearance
Terpsichore is usually d ...
''
*
The Family Stand's 2010 album ''In 1000 Years'' has a jazz version of bourrée in E minor
*
Armin van Buuren's 2022 song "Pas de Bouree" from his ''Feel Again'' album series was loosely based on the dance
*The bourrée from
George Frederic Handel's ''
Water Music
The ''Water Music'' (German: ''Wassermusik'') is a collection of orchestral movements, often published as three Suite (music), suites, composed by George Frideric Handel. It premiered on 17 July 1717, in response to George I of Great Britain, ...
'' was used as the theme song for the
PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...
cooking show ''
The Frugal Gourmet''
See also
*
Country dance
A country dance is any of a very large number of social dances of a type that originated in England in the British Isles; it is the repeated execution of a predefined sequence of figures, carefully designed to fit a fixed length of music, perfo ...
*
Polska
*
Branle
A branle ( , ), also bransle, brangle, brawl(e), brall(e), braul(e), brando (in Italy), bran (in Spain), or brantle (in Scotland), is a type of France, French dance popular from the early 16th century to the present, danced by couples in either ...
References
External links
Video - Royal Opera House Ballet glossary - Pas de bourrée and pas couru demonstratedVideo - Ballet pas de bourrée explainedVideo - Jazz pas de bourrée explainedVideo - Baroque pas de deux - "La Bourée d`Achille", from ''Achille et Polixène'' by P. Colasse (1649 - 1709), danced by Baltic BaroqueVideo - "Bourrée et menuet d'Achille"Video - French clog dance, line formation in double timeVideo - French partner dance in triple timeVideo - French square formation for two couples in triple timePara saber más de borrèias y escuchar fragmentos(in French and Occitan)
Algunas partituras de borrèia(in Occitan)
Bourrées under CreativeCommons licence on BalLibre.org
Karsten Evers and Ulrike Frydrych: ''Französische Volkstänze, Band III Bourées'', Eiterfeld, 1987. Download: Dance descriptions (in German) sheet music and audios
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bourree
Baroque dance
European folk dances
Baroque music
Dance forms in classical music
Occitania
Dance in France
Ballet terminology