Il Villanicco

A dance for four from Cesare Negri's Le Gratie d'Amore / Nuove Inventioni Di Balli (1602/1604) reconstructed by Joanna Keenan (Joanna of the Beechwoods in the SCA)

Note: {#16bars} means the end of twice through 8 bars of music. Each part of the dance takes twice through 8 bars, or a multiple of twice through 8 bars, except the Fifth Part, which is only 8 bars. (see sheet music)

Begin the dance as in the illustration,  facing one another across the centre of a square.
 

First Part

Go around the square to the left with:

3 Seguiti ordinarii LRL   [6 bars]

4 Passi fermi in saltino*¹  RLRL  [2 bars]

2 Seguiti spezzati RL    [2 bars]
1 Seguito ordinario R     [2 bars]  { #16bars}

Second Part

5 Seguiti ordinarii LRLRL   [10 bars]

4 Passi fermi in saltino RLRL   [2 bars]

2 Seguiti spezzati RL    [2 bars]
1 Seguito ordinario R     [2 bars]   { #16bars}

Third Part

The Gentlemen, only, move toward the centre of the square with:

2 Passi gravi LR          [2 bars]
1 Seguito ordinario L    [2 bars]
 
 

Then they move back with:
1 Passo puntato     [2 bars]
 
 
 

Then they do:
2 Continenzi brevi LR  [2 bars]
 
 
 

1 Represa R    [1 bar]
1 Cadenza R   [1 bar]
Which brings them close to their partner.
 
 

Then they do 4 Passi fermi in saltino    [2 bars]

Each Gentleman then makes an individual circle to the right (clockwise) coming back to face the centre of the square with:
2 Seguiti spezzati             [2 bars]
1 Seguito ordinario           [2 bars]   { #16bars}
 
 

Ending in these positions.
 
 
 

Then the Ladies, only, move toward the centre of the square with:
2 Passi gravi LR          [2 bars]
1 Seguito ordinario L    [2 bars]
 
 

Then they move back with:
1 Passo puntato  [2 bars]
 
 

Then they do:
2 Continenzi brevi LR  [2 bars]
 
 

1 Represa R    [1 bar]
1 Cadenza R   [1 bar]
This recreates the square, rotated 45⁰
 
 

Then they do 4 Passi fermi in saltino [2 bars]
 
 

Each Lady then makes an individual circle to the right (clockwise) coming back to face the centre of the square with:
2 Seguiti spezzati          [2 bars]
1 Seguito ordinario         [2 bars]          { #16bars}
 
 
 

Fourth Part

Section B   -  Letting go with a little bow they each cast out by the left shoulder (anticlockwise) with 2 Seguiti ordinarii LR circling round to face one another with another little bow.    [4 bars]

Section C1 - Both do 2 Represe LR      [4 bars]
Section D   -  Starting with a little bow they each cast out by the left shoulder (anticlockwise) with 2 Seguiti ordinarii LR circling round to place, the Gentleman ending facing Lady 2.    [4 bars]          { #16 bars}

Then while Lady 1 and Gentleman 2 look on, Lady 2 and Gentleman 1 do Sections A & B [8 bars]. Then they do:
Section C2 -  1 Seguito ordinario L forward (approaching one another)  [2 bars]
                         1 Seguito ordinario R backward (away from one another) [2 bars]

Then they do Section D, ending with Lady 2 facing Gentleman 1. [4 bars]          { #16 bars}

Then while Lady 1 and Gentleman 1 look on, Lady 2 and Gentleman 2 do:
Sections A, B, C1 and D ending with Gentleman 2 facing Lady 1.       {#16 bars}

Then while Lady 2 and Gentleman 1 look on, Lady 1 and Gentleman 2 do:
Sections A, B, C2 and D ending with Gentleman 2 facing Lady 2 and Lady 1 facing Gentleman 1.         {#16 bars}

Now Lady 1 with Gentleman 1 and Lady 2 with Gentleman 2 at the same time do:
Sections A, B, C1 and D ending facing their contraries.       { #16 bars}

Then Lady 1 with Gentleman 2 and Lady 2 with Gentleman 1 at the same time do:
Sections A, B, C2 and D ending facing the middle of the square.        {#16 bars}
 
 

Fifth Part

Everyone does:
2 Passi gravi LR             [2bars]
1 Seguito ordinario L       [2bars]
 to their left.
 
 

Then all turn toward the centre of the square and travel toward the centre with:
2 Passi gravi RL             [2bars]
1 Seguito ordinario R     [2bars]
which recreates the original square         { #8bars only}
 
 
 

Sixth Part

All four do the same variation as in the Third Part at the same time:
 

All move toward the centre of the square with:
2 Passi gravi LR            [2 bars]
1 Seguito ordinario L      [2 bars]
 
 

Then they move back with:
1 Passo puntato          [2 bars]
 
 

Then they do:
2 Continenzi brevi LR  [2 bars]
 
 

1 Represa R        [1 ba][
1 Cadenza R       [1 bar]
(The square has now rotated 45⁰.)
 
 

Then all do 4 Passi fermi in saltino   [2 bars]
 
 

Each dancer then makes an individual circle to the right (clockwise) coming back to face the centre of the square with:
2 Seguiti spezzati          [2 bars]
1 Seguito ordinario        [2 bars]                       { #16bars}
 
 
 

All Riverenza.

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*1  A LEFT Passo fermo in saltino - a little jump, landing in the same place with heels off the ground, knees bent at little and the left foot further forward than the right. Negri gives no description of Passi fermi in saltino, but he does for Passetti fermati in saltino, which you would expect to be similar, but smaller.

Bibliography

Del's Dance Book

Florio, John  Queen Anna's New World of Words or Dictionarie of the Italian and English tongues  1611. Facsimile.

Negri, Cesare Le Gratie d'Amore / Nuove Inventioni Di Balli (1602/1604).
 Facsimile and Transcription