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Beautiful Bassedanse Trivia Quiz

What do you know about the stately European "Queen of Measures"? Strut your stuff as you learn the true medieval meaning of 'perfect'.

A multiple-choice quiz by Eruditio. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Eruditio

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
318,267

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
10 / 15

Plays
309

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Although they may have been performed at many different courts in Europe, from what two modern countries does most of our information about basse danse come? Hint

France and Italy

France and Spain

Italy and Spain

France and Germany

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Question 2 of 15

2. From what century does the earliest manuscript containing French basse danses date? Hint

18th century (1700s)

16th century (1500s)

17th century (1600s)

15th century (1400s)

3. One very important source for basse danse is the Brussels manuscript (MS. 9085 in the Biblioth�que royale Albert Ier, Bruxelles), which once belonged to Marguerite d'Autriche. Aside from the contents, what is unusual about this document? Hint

It has an identical twin in the British Museum.

It was written in blood.

Its pages are black with gold and silver lettering.

It is rumoured to be cursed.

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Question 4 of 15

4. Not counting the "honneur", where evidently you make some kind of bow or other acknowledgment to your partner or to the ranking noble, how many different types of step are there in French basse danse? Hint

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Question 5 of 15

5. What does the Middle French word 'bransler' mean? (This has a bearing on how to execute the bransle step.) Hint

To cower in fear.

To flirt.

To bend at the waist.

To sway gently from side to side.

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Question 6 of 15

6. Singles/simples and doubles are usually performed while moving forwards.

True

False

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Question 7 of 15

7. "Basse danse" literally means what? Hint

low dance

new dance

slow dance

lyrical dance

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Question 8 of 15

8. The Brussels manuscript differentiates between "basse danse majeure" ("major basse dance"--the more refined version) and "basse danse mineure". What distinguishes the one type from the other? Hint

"Mineure" is shorter, only having 2 figures.

"Mineure" is the version the peasantry dance.

"Mineure" repeats the same figure, instead of showing off different figures.

"Mineure" starts with a "pas de Brabant", and omits the honneur to the lady at the beginning.

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Question 9 of 15

9. It turns out that basse danses are quite formulaic. Most dances can be described in a few words, by enumerating the size and "perfection" of each figure.

First, how many double steps may there be in a given figure? Hint

2, 4, or 6

1, 3, or 5

2, 3, or 4

1, 2, 3, 4, or 5

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Question 10 of 15

10. Instead of our modern term "perfect", meaning "without flaws", the medieval meaning of "perfect" often indicated completeness.

What makes a bassedanse figure "perfect", according to the authors of the sources? Hint

a pair of single steps after the double steps

another double step on the right, moving backwards

three reprises after the double steps

executing the steps with precision

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Question 11 of 15

11. A typical basse dance (majeure) choreography would usually consist of a reprise, and a bransle to start, followed by several short figures of a pair of singles (ss), some number of doubles (d), followed by more singles (ss) or not, three reprises (rrr), and a bransle (b).

However, there is an odd sequence that appears in Michel Toulouze's manuscript that deviates from this pattern. What is the sequence? Hint

ss ddd b rrr

ss rr b dd r b

ss bb dd rr

ss d r d r b

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Question 12 of 15

12. How do the manuscripts for the basse danse repertoire record the music for these dances? Hint

Polyphonic arrangements where one instrument plays a melody, followed by other instruments which start at different times.

Elaborate arrangements for woodwinds and sometimes lute.

A simple tenor line (melody) of the appropriate length.

Macaronic blends of church music plus popular tunes.

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Question 13 of 15

13. Which of the following statements about the choreographies (step patterns) and tenor lines (melodies) in the Brussels manuscript is true?

Hint

Some choreographies are repeated, but every tenor line is unique.

Every choreography is unique but some tenor lines are repeated.

Every choreography and every tenor line is unique.

Both choreographies and tenor lines are repeated.

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Question 14 of 15

14. Which of the following French dances has a closely analogous version in many Italian sources? Hint

Jouissance vous donneray

La doulce amour

Le hault et le bas

Roti bouilli joyeulx

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Question 15 of 15

15. Which of these dances from Brussels is really atypical (i.e. it significantly deviates from the usual choreographic pattern, beyond adding the "aberrant" figure or prefix discussed above)? Hint

Filles a marier

La Danse de Cleves

Egipciana

Le joieux de Brucelles

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Although they may have been performed at many different courts in Europe, from what two modern countries does most of our information about basse danse come?

Answer: France and Italy

There is at least one reference to basse danse from a German source ("Nurnberg", written 1517, containing material apparently typical of the 15th century), and at least one late 15th-century Spanish source ("Cervera"). However, most of the sources that have come down to us are from Italy or France, usually written in the vernacular.

2. From what century does the earliest manuscript containing French basse danses date?

Answer: 15th century (1400s)

The oldest manuscript containing basse danse choreographies is believed to date from 1445, squarely in the middle of the 15th century.

This MS. can be referred to (in the context of basse danse) as "Paris" or "P"; here is the shelfmark:
P --- Paris, Bibliotheque nationale, f. fr. 5699 (anice f. fr. 10279)

This information is taken from Russel Almond's "Basse Danse Project" page.

Answer: Its pages are black with gold and silver lettering.

You can see images from this beautiful manuscript online through the U.S. Library of Congress "American Memory" project.

Answer: 4

The four distinct steps are: s= single/simple; d= double; r= reprise (or desmarche, but 'd' is already taken), b= bransle.

5. What does the Middle French word 'bransler' mean? (This has a bearing on how to execute the bransle step.)

Answer: To sway gently from side to side.

According to a dictionary I once consulted, "bransler" describes the motion ships make while waiting to pay their customs dues. I think there was also an alternate, ruder meaning that had to do with applying friction by moving in a back-and-forth manner. Not very courtly, though, so ill-suited to the semi-public environment of the ballroom...

6. Singles/simples and doubles are usually performed while moving forwards.

Answer: True

As far as I know, simples always move forwards, and most doubles do also. Reprises (or desmarches, a different word for the same thing) always move backwards.

7. "Basse danse" literally means what?

Answer: low dance

This term means that the dance uses steps that are low to the ground, as opposed to leaping steps that probably also covered more ground. We would expect to find a term like "haute danse" ("high dance") to indicate a contrasting dance or section of the dance, but curiously, we do not. However, the Italian sources do refer to an "alta danza", which would seem to follow the "bassadanza".

8. The Brussels manuscript differentiates between "basse danse majeure" ("major basse dance"--the more refined version) and "basse danse mineure". What distinguishes the one type from the other?

Answer: "Mineure" starts with a "pas de Brabant", and omits the honneur to the lady at the beginning.

There are no detailed instructions on how to do a "pas de Brabant", but in the Italian sources, it is usual to perform a section of "saltarello", using quick, hopped steps that cover a lot of ground. The "pas de Brabant" could be a similar, or even the same step. If you think you know more about this, please write to me!

9. It turns out that basse danses are quite formulaic. Most dances can be described in a few words, by enumerating the size and "perfection" of each figure. First, how many double steps may there be in a given figure?

Answer: 1, 3, or 5

If a figure has 1 double step, it is "small" (petit), with 3 doubles it is "medium" (moyen), and with 5 it is "large" (grand).

10. Instead of our modern term "perfect", meaning "without flaws", the medieval meaning of "perfect" often indicated completeness. What makes a bassedanse figure "perfect", according to the authors of the sources?

Answer: a pair of single steps after the double steps

Thus, "Casuelle la Novele", a typical choreography, can be described as: large imperfect (5 doubles, no singles after), small perfect (1 double, with singles), large imperfect, small perfect, medium imperfect (3 doubles, no singles).

11. A typical basse dance (majeure) choreography would usually consist of a reprise, and a bransle to start, followed by several short figures of a pair of singles (ss), some number of doubles (d), followed by more singles (ss) or not, three reprises (rrr), and a bransle (b). However, there is an odd sequence that appears in Michel Toulouze's manuscript that deviates from this pattern. What is the sequence?

Answer: ss d r d r b

Oddly enough, in this "aberrant" figure, which is never discussed in the lengthy introduction, the doubles are interwoven with the reprises. Stranger still, this "aberrant" pattern occurs in about 20% of the dances in this manuscript!

There is also an "aberrant" prefix that can be inserted before a figure: ss d r. Again, the introduction offers no commentary on this frequently-used prefix.

12. How do the manuscripts for the basse danse repertoire record the music for these dances?

Answer: A simple tenor line (melody) of the appropriate length.

All we have for music is a simple melody line, for a tenor instrument. Professional musicians were expected to be able to improvise around this melody to create a pleasing sound. This is not an easy skill, but all the more impressive when modern people with day jobs can pull it off.

13. Which of the following statements about the choreographies (step patterns) and tenor lines (melodies) in the Brussels manuscript is true?

Answer: Some choreographies are repeated, but every tenor line is unique.

Not counting exceptional or problematic dances, the Brussels manuscript contains unique music for about 50 dances, but there are only 32 unique choreographies among them, one choreography being repeated 5 times (numbers 20, 21, 22, 29, and 47), under different titles. This would seem to indicate that the titles applied to the music, not to the dances.

14. Which of the following French dances has a closely analogous version in many Italian sources?

Answer: Roti bouilli joyeulx

"Roti bouilli joyeulx" or "Rostiboli gioioso", as the Italians knew it, could be a kind of Rosetta stone for understanding French basse danse. The step pattern of the choreography is nearly identical. The third section of the Italian dance, which is the lively saltarello part, could correspond to the French "pas de Brabant".

The French dance might have begun with the lively jumping (section 1 instead of 3), but with that change, the different versions are very close.

15. Which of these dances from Brussels is really atypical (i.e. it significantly deviates from the usual choreographic pattern, beyond adding the "aberrant" figure or prefix discussed above)?

Answer: La Danse de Cleves

Despite the exotic title, "Egipciana" is utterly typical (medium perfect, small perfect, medium perfect, small perfect).

La Danse de Cleves is _very_ different from the rest. The different figures describe patterns on the floor. One is obliged to drop one's partner's hand, and move away from him/her, if only for a moment. There are 5(?) figures, all different from one another, where the middle one is a kind of bridge. It has to be seen to be believed. The last figure remains unfinished in the one manuscript (Brussels) where it occurs, possibly because the choreographer was trying to think of an exciting ending. It is very interesting.

Source: Author Eruditio

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor CellarDoor before going online.
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