Écossaise
Écossaise (in French: Scottish) is a type of contradanse in a Scottish style - a Scottish country dance at least in name - that was popular in France and Great Britain at the end of the 18th century and at the beginning of the 19th. Despite the Écossaise mimicking a Scottish country dance, it is actually French in origin.[1] The écossaise was usually danced in 2/4 time in two lines, with men facing the women. As the dance is executed, couples progress to the head of the line. [2]
Écossaise compositions were mainly written for solo piano, so that couples could dance to it. The musical form was also adopted by some classical composers, including Franz Schubert, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Frédéric Chopin, who wrote a number of Ecossaises for the piano, which are recognized for their lively rhythm. Chopin composed Three Ecossaises, Op. 72, in this style. Schubert also wrote a number of écossaises for piano, including Ecossaise, D.158, 8 Ecossaises, D.529, and 12 Ecossaises, D.299. Beethoven composed an Ecossaise for piano (WoO 23) and for military band (WoO 22).
This music usually includes significant dynamic contrasts, with fortissimos and pianissimos very close together, contributing to its unique dynamic energy. They sometimes have a central tune upon which some of the strains are based. An écossaise by Johann Nepomuk Hummel is included in the second volume for piano in the Suzuki Method.
References
- New Grove Dictionary 2001 p. 870–871
- Suzuki Piano School, Volume 2, Revised Edition 1995 p.5
