Classical Musical Terms for Dance-Rhythms
- Bolero
From the Spanish National Dance: a pantomime honoring Cupid accented with castanets. Maurice Ravel took it further with Bolero made famous in the movie, "Ten."
- Bourrée
Spanish or French term for the perods that begin on the fourth and terminate on the third beat.
- Chaconne
Spanish or Italian term for the basso ostinate emphasized on the second beat.
- Cracovienne
Polish derived word for syncopationous rhythms punctuated with many surprise accents.
- [Czardas
From the Hungarian National Dance, this rhythm commences with a drawn out mournful Lassan growing into a complicated and frenetic frisky Friska.
- Fandango
This Spanish dance accompanied by guitar and castanets was meant to played between lyrics. The 'light' version made famous in Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale."
- Gavotte
An Old French method whereby periods start on the third and finish on the second beat; together with a Musette. (Please, not to be confused with garotte.)
- Habanera
This, which is the Cuban National Dance, is highlighted with strong changing, syncopated rhythm and accompaniment.
- Laendler
A Tyrolese waltz. (For latter term see below)
- Mazurka
Changing accents with a noble stance distinguish this Polish National Dance.
- Minuet
A white powdered wig and a harpsichord might not hurt doing the royal touch required in this Old French where the third beat is subtly accented.
- Musette
As mentioned before as incorporated with the Gavotte, it's drone bass element refers back to its bag-pipe ancestery.
- Polka
Here is the surprise: this originated in Bohemia, not Poland, but it is a quick circular choreography.
- Polonaise
Now, we have the Polish dance, which originally was meant to be quite dignified whose rhythm starts with a accente forte, and ends on the last beat.
- Saltarello
After all the jumping around required in this Spanish/Italian styled rhythm, one will see the salt a' really.
- Sarabande
This is a methodically mellow and serious Moorish/Spanish dance.
- Tarantella
Just like the name sounds, this is a tumultuous Old Italian dance inspired by the reaction to have been bitten by a Tarantula spider, from the Tarentine area.
- Waltz
The beginnings are mysterious of this most known three-quarter-time rhythm, that can have changing tempos, has three types:
- Quick Waltz (Vienna)
- Slow Waltz (German)
- Two Step
Source:
The Music Lovers' Encyclopedia, Rupert Hughes, Gramercy: NY, 1903.