Bransle d’Ecosse or Scotland branle, 1589

In his book Orchésographie (1589), Thoinot Arbeau describes many “regional” circle dances: Poiton, Champagne, Bretagne, Bourgogne… He takes us on a full circuit around France, and even around Europ with the branles of Malta and Scotland.

Today, I study the Bransle d’Ecosse, or Scotland branle, a classic of Renaissance balls of today.

How do we dance the Scottish branle? Does it really come from Scotland? How did it arrive in France? You’ll find all answers in this article.

After a few considerations on the origins of the dance, you’ll find all relevant explanations to teach the dance.

This article was edited on March 16th 2020, following informed suggestions by Christine Grimaldi and Francis Boissard. Many thanks to them!

Being a French native speaker, I write in English as good as I can. Please let me know if you sot any error. thank you!

A dance from Scotland ?

Scotland and France are not exactly neighbours. So it is quite surprising to find a scottish branle in the Orchesography, while it doen’t contain dances from closer regions, as Artois (North of France) or Normandy, for example.

So the question needs to be asked: is it really a dance imported from the land of kilts and highlanders? Or is it a French creation, vaguely inspired by a distant country? The question deserves attention.

Arbeau writes that the brawls of Scotland were in vogue « il y a environ vingt ans » (about 20 years ago), so circa 1569.

Did some special links exist between France and Scotland at this time? It appears so.

France and Scotland in 16th century

At the time, the Scottish nobility was divided into two camps. One was Protestant and in favor of a rapprochement with neighboring England. The other was Catholic and counts on help from France to maintain its independence.

King James V of Scotland (1512-1542) chose his side and married Marie de Guise, a Frenchwoman. Their daughter Mary will also be raised in France and promised to François II, son of François I, king of France. But Mary did not introduce the dance of Scotland to France: she was only five years old when she arrived. They are not his traveling companions either: they are four little companion girls, all named Mary, a governess and the two illegitimate brothers Mary Stuart.

James V died when his daughter Mary Stuart was only a few days old. His wife Marie then assumed the regency and regularly requested military aid from her compatriots. The young Mary would continue this trend during her reign. French lords were therefore present in Scotland until 1567, the date of the abdication of Mary Stuart. These lords would have brought back the moves from Scotland when returning to France after the abdication.

Moreover, Thoinot Arbeau gave us the date of 1569. Mary Stuart abdicated in 1567. That fits!

Is the Scottish branle a real scottish dance?

This seems like a very attractive theory.

Yet, it is not certain that the dance actually comes from Scotland.

Indeed, for other provincial branles, Arbeau often recounts personal or historical anecdotes. The author practiced the brawl with the “les Bachelettes de Poitiers”, he learned the Triory from a young student from Brittany, that he met in Poitiers, etc.

But for the Scotland brawl, no additional information. We only learn that: « Les Escossois [dansent] les branles d’Escosse » (the Scotsmen [dance] the Scotland brawls). Thank you, Captain Obvious!

I also remind you that the history of dance knows many “regional” dances which are not. Thus, the Scottische was called “German Polka” when it was introduced in 1848, and has no connection with Scotland, despite its name.

The mystery therefore remains complete about the origin of the dance: Scottish or not, that is the question. But the idea of ​​a dance brought back from Scotland by the French fighters, after Mary’s abdication, seems really attractive.

Musisic and recordings for the branle of Scotland

First of all, you should know that there is not one, but several Scotland branles. These musical pieces were played in suite, i.e. consecutively.

Thoinot Arbeau describes two of them in his Orchesography, in 1589. For the other branles, he refers us to  «l’ instruction desdits joueurs, ou de vos compaignons » (the instruction of the said players, or of your companions)… So, for the historians, it’s a deadend.

Pierre Attaignant and Jean d’Estrée published others suites of Scotland branles, but none with dance instructions.

Today, to my knowledge, all recordings of Arbeau’s branles of Scotland contain the two melodies played alternately, like the A and the B of the same tune. As a result, the dancers alternate first and second motions as well.

But in reality, the musicians had to play the first branle a certain number of times, continue with the second, then the third, and so on. This is the most historical way of doing things, but it is quite daunting for today’s dancers.

You can easily find dozens of recordings. I’m sharing some of my favorite versions with you. The links take you to album sales sites (those are not affiliated).

• Blast from the past, «Branle d’Ecosse (the Scots branle) », A medieval Christmas, Blast Records, 2012.
• Broadside Band, «Branles d’ecosse», English Country Dance, The Gift of Music, 2005.
• Compagnie Maître Guillaume, « Branles d’Ecosse. Orchésographie », Musique à danser de la Renaissance française, Arion, 1995.

Position

The dancers form a circle, open or closed. Normally, the dancers join the dance as pairs, the manstanding on the left. In the Scottish branle, this does not matter much because all the dancers do the same steps, without distinction of gender.

The steps

Used steps are : Single, Double, Pied en l’air (kick), Saut majeur (jump) and Capriole.

• Single to the Left:
  • A lateral step to the left with left foot – Arbeau says « pied largy » (spread foot) on beat 1 ;
  • Step with the right foot next to the left foot without shifting weight on beat 2.

In the branles, the steps are always lateral. In other dances, they can be performed moving forward or backward too.

• Double to the Left :
  • A lateral step to the left with left foot on beat 1 ;
  • Step with the right foot next to the left foot, with weight, on beat 2 ;
  • A lateral step to the left with left foot on beat 3 ;
  • Step with the right foot next to the left foot without shifting weight on beat 4.

• Pied en l’air (kick, litterally “foot in the air”) : shift weight with a little hop, finishing with a foot in the air. Beware, “pied en l’air” left means that you hop on the right leg, and finish with the left foot risen.

• Saut majeur (big jump) : Vertical jump, with take off and landing on both feet. The legs stay straight during the jump.

• Capriole : Vertical jump, with take off and landing on bith feet. During the jump, one leg stays straight while the other folds under the body.

Style and progression in the brawls

Step

In the Scotland branle, all double and single steps finish with a “pied croisé” (crossed foot). So for a double to the left, you’ll do :

• Step L to L (pied largy)
• Step R next to L (pied approché)
• Step L to L (pied largy)
• Lift the R crossed in front of L

The crossed foot shouldn’t be pointed, but flexed.

That’s for the feet, but what about the arms?

Arms

Dancers hold eacht others hands and let them down (forming a “V” with two arms). [Edit 16/03/2020] Abreau doesn’t speak about any arm move during the dance. However I propose to swing lightly the arms, forward on the odd beats, and back ward on the even beat. Many choreographers came up with that proposal; I think that the movements of the arms helps with the dynamics of the dance [end of edit]

Progression

The basic principle of the branle is the progression to the left, during the dance. But if you dance the doubles as described, you will not progress neither side… How could we solve this issue?

It is quite simple: the steps to the rigth should be smaller than the ones to the left. So, when you do a dougle to the left and then to the right, you finish to the left of your beginnig spot. And so you progress to the left.

Actually, Arbeau speak about smaller and bigger steps only for the branle double or double brawl. I suppose that it is so for all other brawls. Then again, the branle simple or simple brawl is danced “par mesmes pas” (by the same steps) as the double brawl. In the Bourgogne branle, “il ny a difference esdits pas” (there is no difference in the said steps”. An all other brawls naturally progress to the left.

As a beginner dancer, one often forget to progress, because one focuses on the complex combination of single, doubles and kicks. The progression though is the main feature of the brawl.

Instruction for the brawl of Scotland

First brawl

A1                 1-2                   Double to left

                        3-4                   Double to right

                        5-6                   Single to left then single to right

A2                 1-6                   Repeat A1

Second Branle

B1                 1-2                   Double to left

                        3-4                  Single to right, single to left

                        5-6                   Double to right

B2                 1-2                   Double to left

                        3                      Single to right

                        4                      Kick right, left, right

                        5                      Big jump and capriole

Sources

Thoinot Arbeau, Orchésographie et Traicté en forme de dialogue, par lequel toutes personnes peuvent facilement apprendre & practiquer l’honneste exercice des dances, Jean des Preys, Langres, 1589.

Mélanges tirés d’une grande bibliothèque, Moutard, Paris, 1782, vol. 15.

Susan de Guardiola, Two Branles d’Escosse, on Capering and Kickery, February 19 2008.

Conclusions

The origines of the Scotland branle are unclear. We know that a strong relationship existed between French and Scottish courts mid-16th century. The dance may have been introduced in France by the entourage of the young Mary Stuart. Or more probably, brought back from Scotland by the French knights in full rout.

The reconstruction of the dance is much more certain. If you are looking for other historical dances to learn or teach, I invite you to downloas my free ebook.

Do you dance the branle of Scotland? Or any other branle ? What is your favourite branle ? Tell me more by leaving a comment below!