Galop
Encyclopedia
In dance
, the galop, named after the fastest running gait of a horse (see gallop), a shortened version of the original term galoppade, is a lively country dance, introduced in the late 1820s to Parisian society by the Duchesse de Berry and popular in Vienna, Berlin and London. In the same closed position familiar in the waltz
, the step combined a glissade with a chassé
on alternate feet, ordinarily in a fast 2/4 time. The galop was a forerunner of the polka
, which was introduced in Prague ballrooms in the 1830s and made fashionable in Paris when Raab, a dancing teacher of Prague, danced the polka at the Odéon Theatre, 1840. In Australian bush dance
, the dance is often called galopede.
The galop was particularly popular as the final dance of the evening. The "Post horn
Galop" written by the cornet
virtuoso Herman Koenig was first performed in London, 1844; it remains a signal that the dancing at a hunt ball or wedding reception is ended.
Perhaps the most famous galop today is the concluding one in the overture
to Rossini's opera
Guillaume Tell, known popularly as the Lone Ranger theme.
Numerous galops were written by the "Waltz King" Johann Strauss II
. Dmitri Shostakovich
employed a "posthorn galop" as the second, Allegro scherzo
of his Eighth Symphony
, 1943. Particularly famous is the "Devil's Galop" by Charles Williams
.
Some Galops were also written by Nino Rota
. George Gershwin
composed the galop "French Ballet Class (for two pianos)
" for his score to the film Shall We Dance.
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
, the galop, named after the fastest running gait of a horse (see gallop), a shortened version of the original term galoppade, is a lively country dance, introduced in the late 1820s to Parisian society by the Duchesse de Berry and popular in Vienna, Berlin and London. In the same closed position familiar in the waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
, the step combined a glissade with a chassé
Chasse
Chasse or chassé rarely chassée is a dance step used in many dances in many variants, all of them being triple-step patterns of gliding character, steps going basically step-together-step. The word came from ballet terminology...
on alternate feet, ordinarily in a fast 2/4 time. The galop was a forerunner of the polka
Polka
The polka is a Central European dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas. It originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia...
, which was introduced in Prague ballrooms in the 1830s and made fashionable in Paris when Raab, a dancing teacher of Prague, danced the polka at the Odéon Theatre, 1840. In Australian bush dance
Bush dance
Bush dance is a style of dance from Australia, particularly where the music is provided by a bush band. The dances are mainly based on the traditional folk dances of the UK, Ireland and central Europe.- Eras of bush dance in Australia :...
, the dance is often called galopede.
The galop was particularly popular as the final dance of the evening. The "Post horn
Post horn
The post horn is a valveless cylindrical brass or copper instrument with cupped mouthpiece, used to signal the arrival or departure of a post rider or mail coach...
Galop" written by the cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
virtuoso Herman Koenig was first performed in London, 1844; it remains a signal that the dancing at a hunt ball or wedding reception is ended.
Perhaps the most famous galop today is the concluding one in the overture
Overture
Overture in music is the term originally applied to the instrumental introduction to an opera...
to Rossini's opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
Guillaume Tell, known popularly as the Lone Ranger theme.
Numerous galops were written by the "Waltz King" Johann Strauss II
Johann Strauss II
Johann Strauss II , also known as Johann Baptist Strauss or Johann Strauss, Jr., the Younger, or the Son , was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and other types of dance music, as well as several operettas...
. Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century....
employed a "posthorn galop" as the second, Allegro scherzo
Scherzo
A scherzo is a piece of music, often a movement from a larger piece such as a symphony or a sonata. The scherzo's precise definition has varied over the years, but it often refers to a movement which replaces the minuet as the third movement in a four-movement work, such as a symphony, sonata, or...
of his Eighth Symphony
Symphony No. 8 (Shostakovich)
The Symphony No. 8 in C minor by Dmitri Shostakovich was written in the summer of 1943, and first performed on November 4 of that year by the USSR Symphony Orchestra under Yevgeny Mravinsky, to whom the work is dedicated....
, 1943. Particularly famous is the "Devil's Galop" by Charles Williams
Charles Williams (composer)
Charles Williams was a British composer and conductor, contributing music to over 50 films...
.
Some Galops were also written by Nino Rota
Nino Rota
Nino Rota was an Italian composer and academic who is best known for his film scores, notably for the films of Federico Fellini and Luchino Visconti...
. George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
composed the galop "French Ballet Class (for two pianos)
French Ballet Class (for two pianos)
French Ballet Class is a 6 minute piece written by George Gershwin in 1937 for two pianos for the movie Shall We Dance. This sequence was meant to accompany a scene of dozens of ballet dancers practicing their positions. It is written in the style of the galop....
" for his score to the film Shall We Dance.