Meaning of Allemande in Music
In music, an **allemande** is a type of dance and a musical composition or movement. The term "allemande" originated from the French word for German, as it was a dance that developed in France from a German folk dance.
The allemande originated as a dance in the Renaissance and later evolved into an independent instrumental piece. By the end of the 17th century, it became one of the four standard dances of the suite, a popular genre of instrumental music during the Baroque period.
The allemande is typically characterized as a moderately slow and serious dance, written in quadruple meter and binary form. It often features an imitative and ornamented texture, prioritizing expressive qualities over strongly profiled dance rhythms.
The allemande is also known for its role in the structure of the dance suite. It is commonly the first movement of a suite, followed by other dances such as the courante, sarabande, and gigue.
Overall, the allemande is a significant component of Baroque music and dance, showcasing the artistic and technical characteristics of the time.
A dance in moderate duple meter first appearing in the early 16th century and was frequently followed by a more lively dance in triple meter or, in the 17th century, by the courante. In the 17th century it became a stylized dance type that was regularly used as the first movement of a dance suite. These allemandes are in a very moderate 4/4 time.
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