2.3 (above average)
Tune of the Day: Allemande
An allemande (from the French word for “German”), also spelled allemanda or almain, is one of the most popular instrumental dance forms in Baroque music, and a standard element of a suite. Originally, the allemande formed the first movement of the suite, before the courante, but later it was often preceded by an introductory movement, such as a prelude; this is the case in Bach's Cello Suites.
The allemande originated in the 16th century (Renaissance) as a duple meter dance of moderate tempo, derived from dances supposed to be favored in Germany at the time. No German dance instructions from this era survive, but 16th century French and British dance manuals for the almain do survive. In general the dancers formed a line of couples, extended their paired hands forward, and paraded back and forth the length of the room, walking three steps, then balancing on one foot.