hornpipe

English composer

Definition

An English Baroque dance in triple or duple metre, with a characteristically dotted-note rhythmic profile. In Purcell's keyboard suites the hornpipe has a robust, slightly rustic character, often drawing on vernacular English dance idioms.

Interpretive Guidance

Play with a strong rhythmic profile and a lively, grounded feel. Dotted rhythms should be crisply articulated. The hornpipe is more extroverted than the almand or saraband — allow its vigorous character to come through.

Context

Scope Used by Henry Purcell
Language English

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