Dance and instrumental diferencias in Spain during the 17th and early 18th centuries

• Main Author: Esses, Maurice author (sses, Maurice)
• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Published: Stuyvesant, NY. Pendragon Press 1992
• Series: Dance and music series no. 2
• Subjects: Dance music > ance music > History and criticis > 17th century > Spain; Dance > ance > History > 17th century > Spain; Dance > ance > History > 18th centur > Spain; Dance music > ance music > History and criticis > 18th century > Spain
• Online Access: Click Here to View Status and Holdings.
• Physical Description: xxi, 881pages illustrations 24 cm
• Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references
• ISBN: 0945193084 (hbk.); 9780945193081 (hbk.)

The intimately related phenomena of dance and instrumental variation were prominent features of Spanish culture during the 17th and early 18th centuries. These variations (diferencias) on a set piece of music or choreographed movement permeated the activities of professional and amateur musicians, secular and sacred festivities, and were cultivated by the aristocracy as well as the lower class. The incorporation of variation into the instrumental music which accompanied dance enabled the instrumentalists to produce pieces of sufficient length and diversity to accommodate the needs of the dancers on different occasions. As to the two volumes which will complete this set, Volume 2 supplies a complete inventory and transcription of th e extant instrumental dance pieces and variation sets (495 pieces plus 228 pasacalles), and Volume 3 will contain the original notes in Spanish.