inégalité
French composer
Definition
A French performance practice in which pairs of notated equal notes are performed with a slight inequality — the first note lengthened and the second shortened — to give dance music a subtle lilt. Froberger absorbed this style from French lute and harpsichord music and applied it in his suites.
Interpretive Guidance
The degree of inequality should be subtle in Froberger — not the exaggerated dotting of a French overture, but a gentle forward lean on the beat. Apply it most naturally in the courante and gigue movements; the allemande calls for more equality. Let the harmonic rhythm and melodic shape guide how much inequality feels natural.