Baroque Dance: "La Chaconne de Phaestons"

This version of the Chaconne de Phaeton comes from an undated manuscript and is less often seen than the famous 1704 choreography. It is nevertheless quite charming and a good example of the male repertoire of baroque dance. This choreography is #1940 in the Little-Marsh cataloguing system.

Performer is Daniel Gariépy of the La Belle Danse company in Toronto.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• baroque
• dance
• danse
• ballet
• Phaeton
• Lully
• mask
• 17th
• century
• Louis
• XIV
• Toronto
• daniel
• gariepy

[caroso1581]

Thank you for this wonderful Video and the nice perfomance of a neat reconstruction. In just wonder what you are doing instead of the last three pages from the original manuscript? Why did you change the end of the dance, it is not more difficult than the beginning and I see no reason for it.

[LaBelleDanse]

@caroso1581 Thanks for your comment. You are quite right that I did indeed depart from the notation for a long section near the end. The truth is that I completely blanked at one point and had to improvise. What you see during that section was something I had to invent on the spot. The strange thing is, i actually like that improvised section now. :-)

I think you may be the first to comment as many are not familiar with that notation.

[terpsich]

well executed but where is the unequal treatment of the beats within the measure to match the way the music is played?

[LaBelleDanse]

@terpsich Thanks for commenting. This chaconne, with its propulsive forward motion due to the compound triple-beat groups sort of typifies the genre. Where most chaconnes put the emphasis on beat 2 of the measure, I felt it on beat 1 in most measures. Eg: In measures 2 & 6, I tried to make the first beat (of the emboité) sharp and "breathy" in the rise. I tried to match the stresses throughout. In the bourrée vites, I spread the emphasis across the measure, but quickening the first two steps.

[LaBelleDanse]

@terpsich Some of the bourrées I made very even to match the music. The jété and coupé-battu sequences I tried to phrase in a sharper way for the same reason. Does it seem flat to you? I'm interested in your opinion as you seem to be a connaisseur of baroque dance. Thanks again for commenting.

[JeremyNasmith]

Nice work Daniel! I haven't seen you in ages, but I see you've been keeping busy! This is the first vid of yours I've found, and I'm rushing to finish typing this comment so I can watch the next clip!

Bravo!

[LaBelleDanse]

Thank you Jeremy,

Your videos are breathtaking and I so much enjoy watching them.

All the best to you!

[CminorMaxG]

This is an example of a time when dances actually followed to music. Nowadays the dastardly music will only be background noise whilst the dancers perform some disgusting display of eroticism. What you just heard is true beauty in motion and sound and do never forget that.

[jedwentz]

Super! Really lovely!

[JoelvanLennep]

I hate to say this and probably shouldn't, but sweet and intimate though this may be, d'Anglebert's version, played on the harpsichord, sounds much grander - but maybe it shouldn't. The violins make too many little fluffs, btw. If I had been Louis, I would have had thrown them out of Versailles or put in the kitchen. But I'm not, and wouldn't, I suppose. Yes, everything extra-musical about this film gave me the heebiejeebies. Brr! (Vive la Revolution?)

[KarlMartell732]

it´s wonderful ! but kinda creepy as well.

[waptrix]

A dança realmente expressa uma época refinada e bonita. Hoje em dia, isso não é nem considerado! Felizes os que apreciam coisas nobres de espírito!

[caroso1581]

Thank you for the immediate and honest reply. Nevertheless, I like the dancing. You do a great job with providing all these dance videos from your group “La Belle Danse”. It is very helpful for musicians to get an idea about the dances behind the music. I am looking forward to see more dances.

[peteacher52]

A fine stately performance to equally fine music. Helpful and useful to get a glimpse of how measures may well have been danced in baroque times, although no one can say that they have an exclusive handle on it! Same as the interpretation of tempo - we simply don't know, so, to each his own, and all are valid.