Gigue facts for kids
The gigue (say "jeeg") or giga (say "jee-ga") is a fast and lively Baroque dance. The word "gigue" comes from French, and "giga" comes from Italian. In English, this type of dance is called a "jig", which is often a folk dance.
What is a Gigue?
The gigue was a very popular dance during the Baroque period (around 1600 to 1750). It was often the final movement in a series of dance pieces called a suite. A Baroque suite was like a collection of different dances, all put together to be played one after another.
Gigue in a Music Suite
Many famous Baroque composers wrote suites. A typical Baroque suite would usually include:
- An Allemande (a moderate German dance)
- A Courante (a fast French dance)
- A Sarabande (a slow Spanish dance)
- And finally, a Gigue!
Sometimes, composers would add one or two other dances to the suite as well. The gigue often brought the suite to an exciting and energetic close.
The Music of a Gigue
Gigues are known for their quick and bouncy feel. They usually have a special kind of time signature called a compound metre. This means the main beat is divided into three smaller parts, like 6/8, 6/4, 9/8, or 12/16. This gives the music a skipping or galloping sound.
Gigues often have a contrapuntal texture. This means that different musical lines or melodies are played at the same time, weaving in and out of each other, instead of just one main melody with chords. Each musical idea, called a phrase, is usually four bars long.
Like most dances in a Baroque suite, the gigue is usually in binary form. This means it has two main sections. The second section often starts with the main tune played in inversion, which means it's played "upside down" or with the notes moving in the opposite direction.
Images for kids
-
Gigue rhythm.
-
Another gigue rhythm.
See also
In Spanish: Giga (danza) para niños
