The hornpipe is any of several dance forms played and
danced in Britain and Ireland and elsewhere from the
16th century until the present day. The earliest
references to hornpipes are from England with Hugh
Aston's Hornepype of 1522 and others referring to
Lancashire hornpipes in 1609 and 1613.
It is suggested that the hornpipe as a dance began
around the 16th century on English sailing vessels.
However, the dance does not seem to have become
associated with sailors until after 1740 wh...(+)
The hornpipe is any of several dance forms played and
danced in Britain and Ireland and elsewhere from the
16th century until the present day. The earliest
references to hornpipes are from England with Hugh
Aston's Hornepype of 1522 and others referring to
Lancashire hornpipes in 1609 and 1613.
It is suggested that the hornpipe as a dance began
around the 16th century on English sailing vessels.
However, the dance does not seem to have become
associated with sailors until after 1740 when the
dancer Yates performed 'a hornpipe in the character of
a Jack Tar' at Drury Lane Theatre, after which, in 1741
at Covent Garden we hear of 'a hornpipe by a gentleman
in the character of a sailor.'. Movements were those
familiar to sailors of that time: "looking out to sea"
with the right hand to the forehead, then the left,
lurching as in heavy weather, and giving the occasional
rhythmic tug to their breeches both fore and aft.
The hornpipe is an Irish, Scottish and English dance.
It is done in hard shoes, which are used to help keep
track of how the dancer keeps in time. There are two
variations of the hornpipe dance: fast and slow.
Usually, more experienced dancers will do the slow
hornpipe but younger dancers will start out with the
fast hornpipe and then switch in later years. There is
a change of tempo in the music but not the dancing
between these two speeds. The only difference in the
dancing between the fast and slow steps are the dances
that the competitor does and the rhythm/sound of how
they move their legs. The rhythm for both fast and slow
hornpipes is very even and should be executed that way
by the dancer.
Source: Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornpipe).
Although originally written for Celtic Harp, I created
this Interpretation of "The Blacksmith's Hornpipe" for
Flute & Strings (2 Violins, Viola & Cello).
