Music

We perform our dances to authentic music of the period. We are usually accompanied by live music performed here by Stephen Cox and other members of the NEDG Ensemble, Harriet Cox (violin) and Caroline Smith (flute). More pictures...

This page describes the music and musical instruments of each period that we dance and has links to music samples for you to hear (appropriate plug-in required, learn more).

Fifteenth century

A contemporary dancing master wrote: 'Have four or five kinds of instruments play, such as shawms, organs, lute, harp, pipe and tabor'; in other words, it was desirable to have a mixture of timbres and colours. We are fortunate that while some of the sources are simply choreographies, some were also published with a melody...

Listen to Trotto (Anon. performed by Grimspound).
Listen to Chirintana (performed by Matthew Williams).

Sixteenth century

The names of Tudor dances are familiar to us today, through the music of the great Tudor composers such as Dowland and Byrd. Many pavanes, galliards and almains, for instance, have come down to us, published in volumes like the important Fitzwilliam Virginal Book...

Listen to Hannentanz (Michael Praetorius, performed by Grimspound).

Seventeeth century

Eighteenth century

The eighteenth century saw the rise of the middle class, and more leisure time for studying the arts. At home young people were expected to play an instrument and sing, while they could demonstrate their dancing skills at the local Assemblies...

Listen to Mr Bartlemon's March (performed by Classical Ambience).
Listen to Avrill (performed by Classical Ambience).
Listen to La Jolie Flamande (performed by Classical Ambience).

Regency

The piano had been invented by the Regency period, and harps and guitars were also popular instruments for amateur musicians wishing to look elegant. Where family and friends were gathered it was quite customary to have a dance of an evening, whether spontaneous or planned...

Listen to Mr Noverre's Minuet (performed by Classical Ambience).