Chiaranzana (No exact translation - general meaning is 'song full of leaping')

In this Balletto of the Chiaranzana there is accustomed to be here great confusion, and greatest in the starting; because the men run to take the ladies, as if they were so many falcons, which would be running to take the prey, whence sometimes thence follow rumors, and of the unfit of importance, and especially when it is encountered that 2 men go to take one lady; the whom in order to not do wrong to neither the one nor the other, ceases sometimes from going to dance.   Therefore I exhort that each gentleman go modestly to take the lady which he will seem, and that which will guide the dance will not start it until all would not have taken their ladies, then all stationed in order in the line, they will do together gracefully the Riverenza grave, 2 Continenze, and 2 Puntate, 1 forward, and the other back, starting each thing with the left foot.

In the second time of the Sonata, they will do 2 Passi gravi, and 1 Seguito ordinario, or 1 Doppio, all forward, starting it with the left foot: then back they will do 2 other Passi gravi, and 2 Riprese to the right, starting with the right, with 2 Continenze gravi, 1 to the left, the other to the right: and they will return to do this same another time.

First change of the man.

That who will guide the dance (turning facing to the second couple) which it will follow they will do the same actions done in the second time: being careful to always follow this order until to the Sciolta of the Sonata in Saltarello.

To the other time, the man who will guide, will pass under the couple which they will stand facing, and without either one letting go the hand of his lady, both the men will take the right hand of the other lady, and when the man will pass under, he will do 2 Passi gravi, and 1 Seguito ordinario, and after which all 4 will have taken the hands, doing in the manner of a lattice, or chain, they will do 2 Trabuchetti gravi, 1 to the right, the other to the left, with 2 Riprese to the right, and 2 Continenze, 1 to the left, the other to the right.  Done this time, he who will guide, will pass under the other couple which will be facing him, and will hold the same manner, with doing the same actions said of above: the others will do the same in succession, no one ever advancing from their place: and all being careful, that when that which guides will pass, the others all will follow it, otherwise it would not come to pass, and here would be confusion.

Second change.

The man who will guide the dance will be turned facing to his first couple which will follow him behind: being careful not to let go his lady that which follows, but yet that which guides: and they will walk in this manner, the lady will take with her left hand the left of that man which will stand facing her, and the man which will guide, will take with his right the right of the other lady, going always by line, and doing the same actions said of above.  Done this time, letting it go, the other couples which will follow will hold the same manner, end which will all will be finished of passing: then he who guides will take the ordinary hand of his lady, and will do the first walk said of above: they will follow to do the same all in succession second which they will pass.

Third change.

The man who will guide, turning him facing, as he has done the other turns, to the first couple which always will have followed him, all 4 will take hands in the wheel, and they will do 2 Passi gravi, and 1 Seguito to the left, starting with the left; then to the right they will do 2 other Passi gravi, and 2 Riprese, starting it with the right, with 2 Continenze grave, 1 to the left, the other to the right; then the couple which will follow, will pass under, and the other will hold all the order said until which all the couples will be passed.

It would be possible to do in this Ballo many other changes, but in order to not be too tedious, with having put these here it seems to me to have done enough: if not which certainly it would be too much to do thence most in said Ballo.

To the sciolta of the Sonata.

They will do all together the Riverenza grave, with 2 Continenze, after the man which guides, with his lady will be turned, and facing they will do together 2 Seguiti ordinarii; then without letting go hand, they will raise the arm, and walking, they will do to pass all the couples doing all together always Seguiti spezzati, or Passi; those which will pass will do the same in succession; that is, they will raise the arms, and will let go to pass the couples which follow: or, he who guides will pass with his lady 1 turn under to the couple which will follow, and then he and his lady raising the arm, will do to pass under the other couple, and thus they will follow in succession, passing one under, and the other doing to pass under the other couple.  After they are done passing all the couples, he who guides will let go his lady, and he will turn to the left, and the lady to the right: the same will do those which will have done to pass in succession, that is the men will follow him who will guide the Ballo, and the ladies will follow similarly the lady who guides the Ballo: and doing in this manner, they will be discovered again finally all facing in a line, that is, the men to one part, and the ladies to the other.  Then he who will guide the Ballo, will take his lady with both the hands, and the others standing steady, these 2 will do 2 Passi gravi, and 1 Seguito ordinario to the left, starting it with the left: they will do the same to the right, starting it with the right, then letting it go they will do 1 Seguito spezzato to the left in perspective, and the Riverenza minima, touching the right hand: and they will do the same by opposite, touching the left hand: or if they were not wishing to do said Seguito spezzato, and Riverenza minima, they will do in their place 2 Continenze gravi, touching similarly the right and left hands.

After that, the man who will follow behind, will take the lady who will have let go the second, and the first will take the lady of the second, and all 4 together, will do all the actions which yet are said of the first 2 alone:  the others will follow to do the same after which they will have finished, and with the same manner of changing the ladies, in succession: until which they will have done of taken all the ladies, where all together will be found to dance; and when the first is encountered with his lady, he will take her by the ordinary hand; and walking together with Seguiti, he will go to rest her to her place: doing the Riverenza: and the same to each time, passing, the others will do in succession: and with this manner they will end the Ballo without confusion.

Lute tablature of the Chiaranzana.


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