The tourdion is a light, quick 15th century dance in 32 measures which usually follows a basse danse. It was a simple, purer form which developed into the galliard. The latter veiled the simpler tourdion steps in elaboration and decoration, but became an entity danced by itself. The quicker tourdion was performed with lower, faster kicks (pied en l'air), while the slower galliard could allow higher kicks, for example the greve and the pied crosse.

The Galliard and Tourdion are both done to six beats, and have similar steps. Here are the basic steps:

1.

kL

Hop into the air, and land on the right foot, with the left foot extended (like a KL in a Bransle).

2.

kR

3.

kL

4.

kR

5.6.

Capriole

Pause slightly, then take a larger leap, landing on both feet with the left foot in front of the right foot. (PL).

The above sequence is called a "cinque pas" (five steps), and is repeated throughout the dance alternating with the following sequence, which is the same thing starting on the right foot.

1.

kR

2.

kL

3.

kR

4.

kL

5.6.

Capriole

A common way of dancing the Tourdion after a Basse Danse is to dance 8 cinq pas travelling forwards, then 8 facing your partner, repeating until you run out of music or weet bix.

Galliards are done following a pavan. Often, each pavan music has a galliard piece following the same tune, but in 6/6 time.

There is theoretically some similarity between the galliard and tourdion, and the pas de brabant of the Burgundian basse danses, and the saltarelli of the 15^th century Italian Balli.

To learn the endless variations of galliard figures, it is necessary to be conversant with the vocabulary from which they are named.

Abbreviations

k

Pied en l'air

low kick (front)

K

Greve

high kick (front)

Hk

Ruade (horsekick)

(back kick)

Ck

Ru de vache

cowkick (side kick)

Pc

Pied crouise

crossed kick (foot across other shin)

Bk

Campanello

bell kick (alternate pied en l'air/ruade on the same foot)

J

Saut majeur

high jump

jj

Saut moyen

medium jump

j

Petit saut

small jump

Cp

Capriole

jump, crossing feet in air

CS

Cadence

jump, followed by a Posture

P

Posture

walking pose (foot & hand on same side forward, other foot & hand back)

Mf

Marque talon

touch heel to ground

Mp

Marque pied

touch toe to ground

Fl

Fleuret

2 rapid alternate low kicks followed by a normal pace high kick (kL kR KL)

Cn

Canary

low kick, marque talon, then quick marque pied.

Sf

Fleuret Croise (L)

(L) sideways step followed by quick (R) crossed kick, then normal pace low (R) kick

En

Entretaille

Forwards travelling step slipping one foot beneath the other

Pj

Pied Joints

Join feet together

Notes

At the start of each step in a galliard there is a small leap (Petit saut or j), which is included as part of the step unless it specifically states otherwise. For example, to do a kL, make a small leap onto the right foot (j) at the same time as kicking the left foot forwards slightly in a low kick (kL).

In learning some galliards it is frequently easier to have a small chant or "mantra" to go with the galliard. This can be recited quickly while making the steps. For an example of this, see the "overfoot variation" on the next page, which can be quite difficult to learn, but is much easier with the mantra.

Each of these motions give rise to one or more galliard figures. They can be performed either moving forward, partners holding inner hands, for processing about the hall, or as a counterpassing variation if room is limited or expertise in elaborate steps is to be demonstrated.

Each of these galliard figures is shown starting on the left foot. In each case the second set of the figure should be repeated in the same way as the first set, reversing Right & Left.

1.

Cinq-pas (five step)

kL kR kL kR CSL

2.

Ruade-Entretaille

HkL KR HkL KR CSL.

This is the French "bell-step" from Orchesography.

3.

Ru de Vache

CkL CkL CkL CkL CSL

4.

Pied Croise

PcL PcL PcR PcR CSR

5.

Campanello

BkL BkL BkL BkL CSR

The Italian “Little Bell” step. Execute this pattern with partner's (L) sides opposed. Note: one Bk (L) = k & Hk in one beat.

6.

Fleuret

FlL FlR CSL

7.

Side-crossed Fleuret

SfL SfR CSL

8.

Over-foot variation

kL PcR HkL kR CSL

mantra: "kick cross back kick change".

It is possible to choreograph your own galliard using specific patterns of galliard variations. This example I saw listed as the “Earl of Salisbury Galliard”.

1.

(16 measures)

Cinq-pas counterpassing (twice)

2.

(16 measures)

A.

Pied Croise.

B.

Cinq-pas counterpassing (once)

3.

(16 measures)

A.

Overfoot variation

B.

Cinq-pas counterpassing (once)

4.

(16 measures)

A.

Side-crossed fleuret

B.

Cinq-pas counterpassing (once)

Instead of dancing each 6 beat galliard measure as one sequence of 5 steps, and then reversing the steps for the next 6 beats, a galliard sequence can be derived by taking 2 measures of 6 beats each, and performing 11 steps in the 2 measures.

At the end of the first measure, instead of performing a cadence followed by a posture for 2 beats, each beat is used for a single step. The cadence and posture are done at the end of each second measure only. Therefore, 6 steps are done in the first measure, and 5 in the second measure for a total of 11 steps.

Some of these variations are simple extensions of the 5 step galliards. These are the easiest to perform, because the 5 step sequence is just extended for a further measure before the cadence:

1.

Onze-pas (eleven step)

kL kR kL kR kL kR kL kR kL kR CSL

2.

Fleuret

FlL FlR FlL FlR CSL

3.

Side crossed Fleuret

SfL SfR SfL SfR CSL

Other eleven step galliards are more complex, being formed from larger combinations of the galliard steps:

4.

(From Orchesography)

HkR KL HkL KL HkR KL HkL KR HkR KL CSR

mantra: back front swing swing back front swing kick swing kick change.

5.

(From Orchesography)

HkR KL HkR KL PR KR PL KL HkL KL CSR

mantra: back front back front down up down up swing swing change.