Honeysuckle Alman

Choreography by Robyyan Torr d'Elandris, OL

Music by Anthony Holborne (1598)

Home : Honeysuckle Alman

Melody

Steps Used

SL: Single Left, forward direction. First beat, step forward with the left foot.

Second beat, bring right foot forward, slightly in front of left foot, keep foot in air, sole parallel to the floor.

SR: Single Right, forward direction. Same as SL, reverse feet.

DL: Double left, forward direction. First beat, step forward with the left foot.

Second beat, step forward with the right foot. Third beat, step forward with the left foot. Fourth beat, bring right foot forward, slightly in front of left foot, keep foot in air, sole parallel to the floor.

DR: Double Right, forward direction. Same as DL, reverse feet.

SLs: Single left, sideways. First beat, step sideways to the left with left foot.

Second beat, lift the right foot, bring it over the left foot in the air, sole parallel to the floor.

SRs: Single Right, sideways. Same as SLs, reverse feet and directions.

DLc: Double left, circle. Do a DL, turning in place, starting over your left shoulder.

DRo: Double Right, circle. Do a DR, turning in place, starting over your right shoulder.

SLb: Single Left, backwards. Same as SL, but travel backwards instead of forward.

SRb: Single Right, backwards. Same as SR, but travel backwards instead of forward.

Choreography

The music is arranged in AA'BB' form, and the dance matches, with in A theme and a B theme, each repeated. In the music notated above, a Single takes one measure of music, a double takes two. The tempo is about 110 beats per minute. The dance is for a couple, as many as will, may dance it by forming a processional line of couples. Begin with the lady on the man's right, both facing forward.

A: SL, SR, DL, SR, SL, DR finish facing partner. SLs, SRs, DLc finish facing in direction of procession.

A': SR, SL, DR, SL, SR, DL finish facing partner. SRs, SLs, DRc finish facing partner.

B: Partners take both hands, SL, SR, DL making a clockwise circle around an imaginary pole between partners. Reverse direction, and SR, SL, DR making a counterclockwise circle back to original places. SLb, SRb, DL forward to face partner, DR forward trade places with partner passing right shoulder and turn to face.

B': same as B. Note, feet do not reverse for B'! If the music ends, finish with a reverence, otherwise start over with A.

Music

The music for this dance was originally published in 1598, in Pavans, Galliards, and Almains in 5 parts by Anthony Holborne. There, are many recordings available, one at a tempo suitable for dancing is on the CD Heart's Ease, by the group Fretwork (Virgin Classics, VC 7 90706-2). A modern performing edition of Pavans, Galliards, and Almains in 5 parts is available from many early music shops, published by London Pro Musica.

History

The dance steps and style come from several manuscripts published in Dancing at the Inns of Court by Andrew Cunningham. These manuscripts are dated from c. 1570 to c. 1650, and many dances in them have been redacted in Practise for Dauncinge. The choreography is original, by Master Robyyan Torr d'Elandris.

Sources

James P. Cunningham, Dancing in the Inns of Court, London: Jordan & Sons, Ltd., 1965.

Patri J. Pugliese & Joseph Casazza, Practise for Dauncinge, Cambridge, MA: P.J. Pugliese & J. Casazza, 1980.

This article is Copyright 1993, 2000, 2006 by Dennis R. Sherman. Permission granted for not-for-profit copying and distribution, provided this notice remains attached.

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