Loure

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The loure is a dance of French origin of the 17th and 18th centuries, probably invented in Normandy and named after the sound of the instrument of the same name (a type of musette). It has been described as a slow gigue.^[1]

The loure is a dance of moderate tempo and in ternary meter (6/8, 3/4, or 6/4). The weight is on beat 1, which is further strengthened by the preceding anacrusis which begins the traditional loure.

Examples of loures are found in the works of Lully (e.g., Alceste) and of Bach (e.g.: French Suite No. 5^[2] and the Partita No. 3 for violin solo).

[edit] References

^ http://www.classic99.com/terms1b.htm
^ N. B., however, that in the Bach-Gesellschaft edition of Bach, reprinted by Dover, the Loure is incorrectly called "Bourée II."^{[citation needed]}