Faggot

In the beginning, the faggot is a traditional Danse of couple of the center of France. It appears at the 16th century and is distinguished in two varieties: the Faggot auvergnate and those of the Bourbonnais and the Anjou. Perhaps the name of faggot comes from the faggots of glazing bar which fed the fire around whose the dance was practiced.

“Erudite” form

At the 17th century, the faggot develops an erudite form which will be present in the Bal S and with the theater: of Lully to Branch, many operas and Ballet S contain faggots. But its great vogue is especially due to the integration of the not of faggot in the Contredanse S of the 18th century.

At the 19th century, the not of faggot is codified and become one of the principal steps of the traditional ballet.

In the Continuation of dances, at the time baroque, the faggot belongs to the “galanteries”: dances popular pace being able to take seat enters the Sarabande and the gigue. It is frequently associated with the gavotte, the Menuet or the Passepied (cf J.S. Bach, French Suites n° 5-6, BWV 816-817). Like the other “galanteries”, it is frequently associated with one second faggot, in the homonymous tone (e.g. major C - C minor) or, more rarely, relative (major C - the minor). Cf J.S. Bach, English Continuations n° 1-2, BWV 806-807). It can be also followed by a double (decorative variation). Cf J.S. Bach, Opening [Continuation] for orchestra n° 1 in major C, BWV 1067.

The faggot is in general written at 2 short times (2/2), with a departure preceded by a short lifting (an eighth note). Its tempo is sharp. Its rate/rhythm is frequently characterized by the presence of syncopes.

With hearing, the faggot can merge with the gavotte, with which it shares measurement and the departure in lifting. It is characterized some however by the duration from this one (shorter in faggot), by the sharper tempo, and the possible presence of syncopes. On the other hand, the faggot is distinguished with difficulty from the Rigaudon (or rigodon), aulequel it is identical for certain (Quantz).

Definition according to the Encyclopedia

Under the feather of Louis de Cahusac, Encyclopedia or Dictionary reasoned of sciences, arts and trades gives some the following definition:
“ BOURRÉE: species of dance. It is merry & it is believed that it comes us from Auvergne: it is indeed always of use in this province. It is made up of three steps joined together, with two movements. One begins it with black while raising.
Mouret made pretty faggots ; it carried this kind of airs & dance in its ballets.
One followed it little, this dance not paroissant noble enough for the theater of the opera.
the faggot is at two times, & made up of two parts, of which it is necessary that each one has four measurements, or a multiple number of measurements of four. It differs little from the rigadoon ”.

Traditional forms

In the Berry, one currently knows many chorégraphiées dances, resulting from collectings of Pierre Panis: dances with two partners opposite, dances in quadrette (square, square faggot of Châtre, square of Saint-Chartier, square-crossing), dances with 6, 8, in round, right faggot of Issoudun (alias faggot out of V).

The faggots bourbonnaises are danced mainly with two partners in opposite.

In Auvergne, the faggots are impromptu, the dancers following or not the musical sentences, often with 4 measurements (but sometimes to 3 or 5).

Many chorégraphiées faggots result also from folk groups: the crousade, the faggot of Saint-Flour, the galinette, etc

Jean-Michel Guilcher and Francine Lancelot made many collectings of them.

The faggot is also present at the the Limousin and, to a lesser extent, in Ariège.

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