Musette
Description
A dance of folk origin from the Auvergne region, whose name derives from a musical instrument, the musette (or bagpipe), used in many regions of France. In the 18th century it was a stage and theatrical dance, portraying the characters of villagers and shepherds.
The dance in triple meter in its folk version had lively steps and a light, lively character. In 1703 musette first appeared on stage in André Campry’s opera-ballet Les Muses. From then on, it appeared quite frequently in the ballet repertoire, placed in scenes taking place outdoors, evoking romantic, sentimental play between dancers. However, it was always given a folk, free character. Pecour’s surviving choreography, written in Feuillet’s system Musette à deux, from the opera Callirhoé, is a beautiful showpiece, full of lively steps of cabrioles, contretemps, jettés, chassés. In musette opera choreographies we find similar figures to those in a minuet, such as moulin or cercle à deux.
Bibliography
- Conté Pierre, Danses anciennes de cour et de théâtre en France, Paris, 1974.
- Drabecka Maria, Choreografia baletów warszawskich za Sasów, Kraków, 1988.
- Larousse-Bordas, Dictionnaire de la danse, Paris, 1999.