Medieval Dance - Carol

Carol

For the carol as a musical form see:Carol, Christmas carol

The most documented form of dance during the Middle Ages is the carol also called the "carole" or "carola" and known from the 12th and 13th centuries in Western Europe in rural and court settings. It consisted of a group of dancers holding hands usually in a circle, with the dancers singing in a leader and refrain style while dancing. No surviving lyrics or music for the carol have been identified. In northern France, other terms for this type of dance included "ronde" and its diminutives "rondet", "rondel", and "rondelet" from which the more modern music term "rondeau" derives. In the German-speaking areas, this same type of choral dance was known as "reigen".

Read more about this topic:  Medieval Dance

Famous quotes containing the word carol:

    When you’re 50 you start thinking about things you haven’t thought about before. I used to think getting old was about vanity—but actually it’s about losing people you love. Getting wrinkles is trivial.
    —Joyce Carol Oates (b. 1938)

    Our enemy is by tradition our savior, in preventing us from superficiality.
    —Joyce Carol Oates (b. 1938)

    Herod, the king,
    In his raging,
    Charged he hath, this day,
    His men of might
    In his owne sight
    All yonge children to slay.
    —Unknown. Coventry Carol (l. 10–15)