ORCHESOGRAPHIE
Memory aid for bransles

Abbreviations: L = left, R = right, M = men, W = women


Double Bransle / Branle double

double L - double R

Single Bransle / Branle simple

double L - simple R

Gay Bransle / Branle gay

kick R, L, R, L - pause

Burgundian Bransle / Branle de Bourgoigne

double L - double R (end with cross or kick)

Haut Barrois Bransle / Branle du hault Barrois

double L - double R (with small hops)


Cassandra Bransle / Branle Cassandre

A: double L - double R (repeat)
B: double L - double R - simple L - double R (repeat)

Pinagay Bransle / Branle Pinagay

double L - kick L
double L - kick L, R, L
double L - double R

Charlotte Bransle / Branle Charlotte

A: double L - kick L, R - double R (repeat)
B: double L - kick L, R
simple R - kick L, R, L
simple L - kick R, L, R
double R (repeat)

War Bransle / Branle de la Guerre

A: double L - double R - double L - double R (repeat)
B: (in double speed)
double L - double R
simple L - simple R - double L
simple R - simple L - double R
simple L - kick L, R, L - capriole

Aridan Bransle / Branle Aridan

A: double L - kick L, R, L (repeat)
B: double L - simple R - simple L - simple R
double L - kick L, R - double R
(then in double speed)
double L, end with kick R - simple R - kick L (repeat)


Poitou Bransle / Branle de Poictou

kick R, L, R, L
(in triple speed)
kick R, L, R, L - pause

Scottish Bransles / Branles d'Escosse

1: double L - double R - simple L - simple R (end with cross) (repeat)
2: double L - simple R - simple L - double R (end with cross)
double L - simple R - kick R, L, R - capriole (repeat)

Trihory Bransle / Branle Triory de Bretagne

double L, end with kick L
jump L - kick L, R, L

Maltese Bransle / Branle de Malte

A: double L - simple R (repeat)
B: (use gestures throughout)
step into center L - R
step into center L - R - L - kick R
(while turning L)
step R - kick L - step L - kick R
kick L, R, L - feet together

Washerwomen's Bransle / Branle des Lavandieres

A: double L - double R (repeat)
B: simple L - simple R (gestures M)
simple L - simple R (gestures W)
double L (clap your hands)
double R
double L (clap your hands)
(while turning L) kick L, R, L - capriole

Pease Bransle / Branle des Pois

A: double L - double R (repeat)
B: M jump - W jump - M step L, three hops
W jump - M jump - W step L, three hops

Hermits' Bransle / Branle des Hermites

A: double L - double R (repeat)
B: kick R, L, R - feet together (with half turn L)
on your toes R, L, R - feet together (with a bow) (repeat)

Candlestick Bransle / Branle du Chandelier

step L, R, L - kick R - step R, L, R - kick L (ad lib.)
step L - kick R - step R - kick L (repeat)


Clog Bransle / Branle des Sabots

A: double L - double R (repeat)
B: simple L - simple R - tap R three times (repeat)

Horses' Bransle / Branle des Chevaulx

A: double L - double R (four times)
B: (M) tap R twice - simple R - double L with turn L
(W) tap R twice - simple R - double L with turn L

Montard Bransle / Branle de la Montarde

A: double L (with small hops) (first weaves to end) (four times)
B: (while turning L) kick L, R, L - feet together (each on their turn)

Hay Bransle / Branle de la Haye

A: simple L - simple R - double L (forward, with small hops)
simple R - simple L - double R (forward, with small hops) (repeat)
B: (while making hey until back to your places)
double L - double R (repeat as necessary)

Officer's Bransle / Branle de l'Official

A: double L - double R (with small hops) (repeat)
B: simple L (with small hops) (six times)
kick L, R - feet together (M lift W on their R)


These two dances are modern SCA creations. The exact history of this "SCA Burgundian Bransle" is unknown to the editor. Turkish Bransle is ultimately based on Arbeau's Maltese Bransle (basically it's a simplified version of it).

Burgundian Bransle (SCA) / Branle de Bourgoigne (SCA)

A: double L - double R (end with taps) (repeat)
B: simple L - simple R (end with taps)
(going forward) double L (end with tap)
simple R - simple L (end with taps)
(going backward) double R (end with tap) (repeat)

     
Turkish Bransle / Branle de Turquie

A: double L - double R (end with kick) (repeat)
B: step into center L - R - L (snap fingers)
clap your hands three times
step outwards L - R - L (snap fingers)
half turn L, feet together, clap three times


This is just a short memory aid to help in memorising the steps to various bransles. The complete descriptions of these dances can be found in Thoinot Arbeau's "Orchesographie", which is also available online (for example here). The versions described here are the originals from Orchesographie. At least Pease Bransle and Officer's Bransle, for example, are "traditionally" danced somewhat differently within the SCA.

French original by Nicolas Graner (http://graner.net/nicolas/), translation to English and minor editing by Atro Kajaste (http://www.iki.fi/kajaste/dance/).