Bransles

History

The word “bransle” comes from a French word meaning a side-to-side movement. Most of the steps in a bransle are from side to side.

There is one primary source for all of the bransles described in this book – this is the “Orchesography” of Thoinot Arbeau, published in France in 1589. You can find references to a translation of Orchesography available from Dover (by Mary Stuart Evans) in the bibliography provided with this dance book. Orchesography is the most fundamental primary dance source used for dances in the SCA, and it is a “must have” if you are going to do any period dance research.

There is also a facsimile edition of Orchesography available, although obviously unless you read French the translation will be easier to work from!

Social Setting

It is reasonably obvious from the description of the bransles in Orchesography, and from Arbeau’s status in society, that the bransles were dances done normally by the lower or middle classes in French society at the time (the upper classes were probably dancing pavanes, galliards, and perhaps some dances in the Italian style at the time).

Timing

Generally, bransles are done in 4/4 time.