[ This article appeared in volume 2 of the Letter of Dance. ]
by Daniel of Falling Rocks and Roselyne de l'Estrangere
Brussels, Bibliotheque Royale, Ms 9085. Facsimile with introduction and transcription by Ernest Closson. Le manuscrit dit des basses danses de la bibliotheque de bourgogne (Société des Bibliophiles et Iconophiles de Belgique, Brussels: 1912). The above facsimile (with introduction) has been reprinted by Minkoff.
This is a translation of the introductory portion of the Brussels manuscript. It is worth noting that this introduction is virtually identical to the one in Toulouze ("L'Art et Instruction de Bien Dancer," Toulouze, Paris, circa 1490). We have gone through both of them, together, word for word, and virtually all we found were basically meaningless word order and usage differences. There were only three differences of any more meaning than that.
Firstly, Toulouze replaces a rather long phrase from Brussels with, "par bonne mesure," which in our opinion is a wise choice; the grammar of the portion replaced is horrendous, and took us quite some time to translate; besides this, the sentence is purely one of transition. This portion of the text is marked.
The second major difference is at the very end, where Toulouze lists what the various letters he uses mean, whereas Brussels does nothing of the sort. It is interesting to note that in this place, Toulouze only uses capitals; this is especially interesting with regards to the portion of the text that describes the introductory "reverence." Both texts say this is a desmarche, and we suspect that the initial capital R at the beginning of each dance is simply capitalized because it is at the beginning, not because it stands for a different step.
The third place where Toulouze and Brussels differ is in the descriptions of the desmarche and simple steps. In these descriptions, Brussels uses some form of the word "eslever" four times. In three of these locations (all but the last use, at the end of the description of the simple step), Toulouze uses the word "encliner." The words eslever (enlever) and encliner (incliner) are rather clearly opposite in meaning. Enlever means "to raise," "to lift," (modern enlever means "to take away," "to remove," as in dishes from a table), while encliner means "to bend (down)," "to lean," "to bow," etc. Since the one word clearly denotes upward motion, and the other clearly denotes downward or bending motion, we may either postulate an error in the manuscript, a variation in the step as to which motion is emphasized, or the posibility of one kind of motion inherent in the step and another, that of either inclining or raising one's upper body, which could be a stylistic difference between dance teachers.
In this translation, we tried to follow the original text as closely as possible, although we did occasionally make a sacrifice or two in favor of clear, unencumbered English. The only major change that should be noted is the page order, which was completely redone. The original page order was:
We re-ordered the pages in a sensible way (there are many contextual clues), and then checked this new order against Toulouze. Finding an exact match, we decided this was a reasonable order. Within the text is the occasional statement, "Page N." This means that the following section is on the said page in the manuscript. The order actually given herein is the corrected one.
It is interesting to note that of the 50 "normal" dances (i.e. those that can be described with the perfection/size designations given) in the Brussels Manuscript, there are only 32 actual choreographies. One choreography is reproduced five times to five different pieces of music, three of them in a row (dances 20, 21, 22, 29, and 47).
We considered the following dances "abnormal": 25, 30, 45, 48, and 55 through 58. No. 25 is Beaulte de Castille. 30 is rather unclear. 45 and 48 each have unique, really odd step patterns. 55 and 56 are basse dance mineur. 57 is La Francoise Nouvelle, and 58 is La Dance de Cleves. It is noted that the only Burgundian basse dances currently done in this area (Carolingia, East Kingdom) are, with one exception, abnormal ones. The only exception is Casulle la Novele (number 10 in Toulouze).
There are two small abnormalities, given the system described, in a large number of the dances. In 12 dances (8 choreographies), one of the "normal" measures (usually, but not always, a half perfect measure) is prefixed by a short two singles, double, desmarche. In 14 dances (10 choreographies), one of the measures is two singles, followed by a double, then a desmarche, then another double, then another desmarche, then a branle. Given that over twenty percent of the dances fit into each of these categories, we decided to consider them arbitrarily "normal".
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[Page 1]
Pour lart et instruction de basse danse il est a noter que la basse danse tout premier est en trois parties devisees: Cest assavoir en grande mesue en moierme mesure et en petite mesure. La grande mesure pour entree de basse danse doibt marchier par une demarche puis par ung branle puis par deux pas simples puis par chincq pas doubles puis par deux pas simples comme devant puis trois desmarches puis faut faire ung branle.
For the art and instruction of basse dance, it must be noted first of all that all basse dances are divided into three types; these are, namely, the large measure, the medium measure, and the small measure. The large measure, for entering into a basse dance, must begin with a desmarche, followed by a branle, then two single steps, then five double steps, then two single steps as before, then three desmarches, then one must do a branle.
[Page 2]
La moierme mesure se doibt marchier par deux pas simples puis par trois pas doubles puis par deux pas simple puis trois desmarches puis faut faire ung branle.
Ce petite mesure se doibt marchier par deux pas simple puis ung pas double puis deux pas simples puis trois desmarches et puis ung branle.
Et si est a savore que deux pas simples; ung pas doubles done desmarche et ung branle occoupent autant de temp lun comme lautre.
The medium measure must be done as two single steps followed by three double steps, then two single steps, then three desmarches, then one must do a branle.
The small measure must be done as two single steps followed by one double step, then two singles, then three desmarches, and then a branle.
And it must be known that 2 single steps, one double step, a desmarche, and a branle all occupy the same time as one another.
[Page 8]
Cest a dire que chascun deulz doibt occuper une note de basse danse entiere cest assavoir deux pas simples une note ung pas double une note une desmarche aussi une note et pareillement ung branle.
Et en ces choses cy est la basse danse brave et acomplie du tout.
Note que toute basse danse se commenche par desmarche et se finne par branle et se nomme basse danse pour ce que on la joue selon maier par fait et pour ce que quant en la danse on va on paix sans soy demener le plus gracieusement que on peult.
That is to say that each of them must take an entire note of basse dance. Namely, two singles, one note; one double step, one note; one desmarche also one note, and similarly one branle.
And in these things is the basse dance excellent and complete in every way.
Note that all basse dance starts with a desmarche and ends with a branle and is called basse dance because one plays it according to perfect major and because when one dances it, one goes calmly without thrashing about, as gracefully as possible.
[Page 7]
Item il est a noter quil y a deux manieres de bassez dansez. Cest assavoir basse danse mineur et basse danse majeur. Basse danse majeur se commence par basse danse et pour la premiere note qui est nommee desmarche on fait reverence a la femme en soy enclinant vers elle et ceste inclination se doibt faire du pie senestre.
Basse danse mineur se commence par pas de Breban et de la premiere note de la basse danse on ne fait point de reverence a la femme.
Item: It is to be noted that there are two types of basse dances. They are, namely, basse dance minor and basse dance major. Basse dance major starts with basse dance; for the first note, which is named the desmarche, one pays respect to the lady in inclining oneself towards her and this inclination must be done with the left foot.1
Basse dance minor begins with a Pas de Breban and with the first note one does not pay respect to the lady.
[Page 3]
Ytem pour au vray danser une basse danse deux choses sont requises premierment que on sache le nombre des pas dune chasaine basse danse. Secondement que on les sache marchier du nombres des pas une chasaine basse danse. le vous demonstrera puis quil a este devise du nombre de pas dune chasaine basse danse il faut et si est de necessite de demonstrer et ensigner la maniere comment on doibt marchier ces dis pas.2
Item: For dancing a basse dance correctly, two things are required: first, that one know the number of the steps of a given basse dance; secondly, that one know how to execute each of the number of steps of a given basse dance. It will be shown to you that, since it is devised from the number of steps of a given basse dance, it is necessary to show and teach how one should do these said steps.
[Page 4]
Et premierement une desmarche seule se doibt faire de pie dextre in recalant et sapelle desmarche pour ce que on recule et se doibt faire en eslevent son corps et reculer la pie dextre pres de lautre pie.
Le seconde desmarche se doibt faire du pie senestre en eslevant son corps et le tourner ung petit devers la femme et puis amener le pie dextre aupres du senestre en eslevant son corps pareillement.
Ce tierce se doibt faire en pie dextre comme la premiere et se doibt faire audit lieu la ou se fait la premiere.3
Firstly, a single desmarche ought to be made with the right foot retreating and is called the desmarche because one draws back, and ought to lift one's body, and bring the right foot back, close to the other foot.
The second desmarche must be made with the left foot, lifting the body and turning it a little towards the lady; and following, bringing the right foot near the left foot raising the body similarly.
The third must be done with the right foot like the first and must be done in the above mentioned place where the first is done.
[Page 9]
Le branle se doibt commencher du pie senestre et se doibt finer du pie dextre et sapelle branle pour ce que on le fait en branle dun pie sur lautre.
Les deux pas simples se font en alant et la premier pas simple se fait du pie senestre en eslevant son corps et faire ung pas avant et le second pas simple se fait du pie dextre et faut eslever son corps et marchier ung petit en avant.4
The branle must start with the left foot and end with the right foot, and is called a branle because one makes it shaking with one foot towards the other.5
The two single steps are done advancing and the first step is done with the left foot raising the body and making a single step forward, and the second step is done with the right foot and one must raise the body and step a little forward.
[Page 10]
Le premier pas double se fait du pie senestre et faut eslever son son corps et marchier trois pas en avant legierement. Le premier du pie senestre le second du dextre et le tiers du senestre comme le premier. Le second pas double se doibt faire du pie dextre et faut pariellement eslever son corps et puis marchier trois pas en avant le premier du pie dextre le second du senestre et le tiers du dextre. Le tiers pas double se fait du pie senestre comme le premier le quart se fait du pie dextre comme le second. Le quint se fait du pie senestre comme le premier et comme le tiers.
The first double step is done with the left foot; one must raise one's body and go three steps forward lightly, the first with the left foot, the second with the right foot, and the third with the left like the first. The second double step must be done with the right foot and one must lift one's body similarly, and then go three steps forward, the first with the right foot, the second with the left foot, and the third with the right. The third double step is done with the left foot like the first. The fourth is done with the right foot like the second. The fifth is done with the left foot like the first and like the third.
[Page 5]
Il est a savoie que jamais nya que deux pas simples ensembles selon lart de bien danser.
Item il est a savoir que les pas doubles sont tousjours non pas6selon lart de bien danser au vray.
Note que quant on fait deux pas simples apres le pas double on doibt faire le premiere du pie dextre et le second du senestre affinque on faire la premiere desmarche du pie dextre comme dessus est dit.
It must be known that never are there aught but two single steps together according to the art of good dancing.7
Item: It must be known that there is always an odd number of double steps, according to the true art of good dancing.
Notice that when one does two single steps after the double step, one must make the first with the right foot, and the second with the left, so that one does the first desmarche with the right foot as is said above.
[Page 6]
Item il y a une rigle generale en bassez dansez que tout premierement on fait une desmarche puis faut faire ung branle et puis deux pas simples et puis les pas doubles et puis deux pas simples se la mesure de la basse danse le requient et puis les desmarches et puis le branle.
Item il est a noter que aucunesfois on fait une desmarche et aucunesfois trois.
Item: There is a general rule in basse dances that one always makes a desmarche first of all then one must do a branle, and next, two single steps, then the double steps, and then two single steps if the measure of the basse dance requires it, and then the desmarches, and then the branle.
Item: It is to be noted that sometimes one does one desmarche, and sometimes three.
[Page 11]
Item il est a noter quil y a aucunes mesures des basses danses qui sont tres parfaites les autres sont plus que parfaites et les autres sont parfaites et les autres imparfaites.
Les mesures tres parfaites sont celles qui ont pas simples devant les pas doubles et apres avec iii desmarchez et ung branle.
Les aultres se disent plus parfaitez et sont celles qui ont pas simples devant les pas doubles et apres avecquez une desmarche et ung branle.
Item: It is to be noted that there are some measures in basse dances which are very perfect; the others are more than perfect;8 the others are perfect, and the others, imperfect.
The very perfect measures are those which have single steps before and after the double steps, with three desmarches and a branle.
The others are called more than perfect and are those which have single steps before and after the double steps, with one desmarche and a branle.
[Page 12]
Les aultres sont apelleez imparfaites qui ont pas simples devant les pas doubles et non pas apres avec iii desmarches et ung branle.
The others are called imperfect, which have single steps before the double steps, but not after, with three desmarches and a branle.
[The manuscript's dances are reconstructed in a separate article, which follows - Ed.]
1. "fait reverence" literally means "does reverence," respect, honor, or something similar.
2. This last sentence is the one mostly left out of Toulouze, discussed in the introduction.
3. It is on this page that, in Toulouze, "enclinant" is first substituted for "eslevant."
4. It is in this paragraph that the last substitution of "enclinant" for "eslevant" takes place. The word, "eslever," however, is left as it is.
5. Branle (bransle) has several meanings, most of which appear to be related. One of the main elements among these meanings seems to be "to shake gently" (agiter). A second element is "to sway back and forth," as on a swing, or as in the bransle dances performed in the round, where "the word branle also refers to the tune, which provides a rhythm for the dance, and which varies equally." [trans. of Huguet, Dictionnaire de la langue francaise du seizieme siecle, v. 1, p. 683, "Branle"]The third shade of meaning, possibly the most intriguing, is "to hesitate," as when merchant ships must halt to pay tolls. [Godefroy, Dictionnaire de l'ancienne langue francaise, v. 1, p. 722, "Branler"] This unusual description indicates a halt in the forward motion of the dancers, though not a break in the dance.
6. "non pas" probably is "non pair," meaning "not even".
7. lit. "It must be known that never are there only two single steps...," a statement that clearly contradicts every single choreography in the book. Our best (and quite obvious) guess is the one given.
8. lit. pluperfect
Webbed by Gregory Blount of Isenfir (Greg Lindahl) (lindahl@pbm.com)
