Sardana

The "sardana" (Catalan plural "sardanes") is a type of circle dance typical of Catalonia.

There are two main types, the original "sardana curta" (short sardana) style and the more modern "sardana llarga" (long sardana), which is more popular. Other more unusual sardanas are the "sardana de lluïment" and the "sardana revessa".

History

Nobody knows when the sardana originated, but it has been popular since the 16th century. Some believe the sardana is two thousand years old, but such theories have few adherents. Modern choreography was established as late as the end of the 19th century and features slight differences from the original North-Catalonian dance. Pep Ventura's band is credited for stabilizing different variants around a clear 6/8 rhythm and fixing the instrumental ensemble. Though some Iberian and Mediterranean circle dances follow similar patterns, instrumental music for the sardana has achieved a complexity of its own.

ardana Band

Music for the sardana is played by a "cobla", a band consisting of 10 wind instruments, double bass and a "tamborí" (very small drum) played by 11 musicians. The cobla has five woodwind instruments: the "flabiol" which is a small fipple flute, and the "tenora" and "tible" (two of each) which belong to the oboe family. These and the tamborí are typical Catalan instruments. The brass instruments include: two trumpets, two "fiscorns" (a type of saxhorn created by Adolph Sax during the 19th century), and a trombone. The double bass was traditionally a three-stringed one, but now the part is usually written for and played on the modern (four-stringed) instrument.

In Spanish and French Catalonia about one hundred and thirty coblas are active, most of which are amateur orchestras. Outside Catalonia there is one more cobla: Cobla La Principal d'Amsterdam.

ardana Dance

The music written for the sardana dance is also called a "sardana" (pl. "sardanes"), and is usually in two sections ("tirades"), each of which may be repeated in various ways to form the music for the complete dance. There is always first a simple, free introduction "introit" played by the flabiol, concluded by a drum tap of the "tamborí", which leads immediately into the dance. The dance tempo is usually a steady metronome beat of about 112, in a 2/4 and/or 6/8 rhythm.

The first "tirada" played by the band is called the "curts" ("shorts", length between 20 and 50 measures) and has a two-measure pattern danced with the arms down: (point-step-step-cross) to the right followed by (point-step-step-cross) to the left. The second "tirada" is called the "llargs" ("longs", 50 - 100 measures) and has a four-measure pattern danced with the arms up, and this may become more lively.

The number of measures in the "curts" and "llargs", called the "tiratge" or "run", is important to the players, and may be indicated before the start of the dance (e.g. a "run" shown as 25x79 indicates 25 measures of "curts" and 79 measures of "llargs") in order to terminate the "tirada" correctly with the correct foot, though a method commonly used is to count the measures in the first "tirada" and not dance until the second has begun. There is a pattern of "tirades" danced, which may be "curts, curts, llargs, llargs, curts, curts, llargs, llargs"; a two-measure break called "contrapunt; llargs; contrapunt; llargs".

A dancer is called a "sardanista" (pl. "sardanistes").

As a relatively slow, non-performance dance, the sardana does not require special fitness. The dance circle can be opened to a highly variable number of dancers. When danced in the streets and town squares, small circles of dancers can be seen to form and grow: often passers-by join in, leaving their bags in the center of the circle. The dancers are alternate men and women, and care must be taken by those joining not to split partners. These are open circles, called "rotllanes obertes". Another kind of circle may be formed by members of organised sardana clubs called "colles", and each "colla" may wear its own costume.

Many sardanes have sung versions, but mostly instrumental versions are used for dancing. Recordings of sardanes or sardanes played in concert usually contain the "introit", two "curts" and two "llargs". Sardanes may be recorded for dancing, having all the "entrades" in order. Often sardanes are written for special occasions or to commemorate people.

ome Composers of Sardanes

*Juli Garreta i Arboix
*Vicenç Bou i Geli
*Joan Lamote de Grignon i Bocquet
*Ricard Lamote de Grignon i Ribas (son of Joan Lamote de Grignon)
*Francesc Mas i Ros
*Joan-Luís Moraleda
*Enric Morera i Viura
*Joaquim Serra i Corominas (son of Josep Serra)
*Josep Serra i Bonal
*Eduard Toldrà i Soler
*Josep Maria "Pep" Ventura

ee also

* Catalan shawms, discussing the tenora and tible.

External links

*
* [http://www.ce.berkely.edu/~coby/essays/sardana.htm The Sardana and I by Coby Lubliner]
* [http://www.contemporania.net/ Official web page of Cobla Contemporània]
* [http://www.socialcapitalgateway.org/barrigotic.htm Dancing Sardana in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter]
* [http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/specialist/catalan-dancing-sardana.html Catalan Dancing in Barcelona, Sardana Dance]
* [http://www.cobla-amsterdam.nl/ Cobla La Principal d'Amsterdam]
* [http://www.gourmandbreaks.com/blog/news/the-sardana/ Sardana video]
* MP-3 examples of cobla music are available on the [http://www.selvatana.com/Selvatana%20-%20Al%B7legoria%20(part%201).mp3 Selvatana Cobla] and [http://www.coblasabadell.com/mp3/lescomares.mp3 Cobla Sabadell] sites.