Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
In addition to many sacred works, Michael Praetorius (1571 - 1621) published Terpsichore, a collection of 312 dances, mostly of French origin. Many of these dances, such as the present one, consist of a series of short pieces. In modern French, the title would be "Branle de la Reine." A branle was originally a rustic line dance or circle dance, with couples linking arms or holding hands, but it was later adopted into the repertoire of courtly dances. The present piece is a branle of a queen (reine). If Praetorius had a specific queen in mind, it could possibly have been Anne of Austria (1601 - 1666), who is pictured here, though any identification remains purely speculative. Most of the dances in Terpsichore are for five unspecified instruments. Number XVII, presented here, however is for four. I play the top three voices on recorders and the bottom voice on bass viola da gamba.
In addition to many sacred works, Michael Praetorius (1571 - 1621) published Terpsichore, a collection of 312 dances, mostly of French origin. Many of these dances, such as the present one, consist of a series of short pieces. In modern French, the title would be "Branle de la Reine." A branle was originally a rustic line dance or circle dance, with couples linking arms or holding hands, but it was later adopted into the repertoire of courtly dances. The present piece is a branle of a queen (reine). If Praetorius had a specific queen in mind, it could possibly have been Anne of Austria (1601 - 1666), who is pictured here, though any identification remains purely speculative. Most of the dances in Terpsichore are for five unspecified instruments. Number XVII, presented here, however is for four. I play the top three voices on recorders and the bottom voice on bass viola da gamba.
