Laccio d’Amore
A Sixteenth Century Italian Dance for One Couple
Fabritio Caroso da Sermoneta was born around 1526-1535 and died around 1605-1620. He published two dance manuals during his life, Il Ballarino in 1581 and Nobilta di Dame in 1600. Caroso wrote dances primarily for the nobility, and many of his dances are dedicated to prominent Ladies of the time; Laccio d’Amore, in particular, is dedicated to Signora Givlia Colloreta di Valvasone. Dances of this type were typically performed in courts by a single couple. As he wrote his books late in his life, it’s likely that this dance was probably performed well before 1581.
Laccio d’Amore is a dance for one Lord and one Lady that appears in Il Ballarino. It is notable for its frequent use of the cadenza throughout the dance. Caroso describes Laccio as a cascarda, which is a dance to fast-paced music that has a simple verse-chorus structure that repeats several times. Il Ballarino includes an arrangement of the music for lute.
This reconstruction is based on the 1967 Broude Brothers facsimile of Il Ballarino. Facsimiles from Il Ballarino are available from Gregory Blount’s website.
Transcription in Italian
Note that the original text includes many accented characters that at the time of writing were not easily rendered by web browsers. I have substituted unaccented letters on this page. Please excuse the abuse of the language. This transcription also appears on Gregory Blount’s website.
Laccio D’Amore
Cascarda
In Lode Dell’illvstre Signora
La Signora Givlia Colloreta Di Valvasone
Questa Cascarda principaiarssi all’incontro, & faranno insieme la Riuerenza minima; poi in ruota faranno quattro Seguiti spezzati, & quattro Trabuchetti, con tre altri Seguiti spezzati, cioe, due fiancheggiati indietro, & uno volto alla sinistra, & la Cadenza col destro.
Nel secondo tempo, l’Huomo solo fara due Passi presti innanzi, & due Trabuchetti, & un Seguito spezzato volto alla sinistra, & la Cadenza, come di sopra. Il medesimo fara un’altra volta per contrario; poi l’Huomo pigliara la Fe destra della Dama, & faranno insieme due Seguiti spezzati, & due Passi presti, & la Cadenza, cambiando luogo: il medesimo faranno poi pigliando la Fe sinistra, principiando col pie destro, ritornando ogn’uno al suo luogo.
Nella terza mutanza, la Dama fara il medesimo che hara fatto l’Huomo: dopo insieme pigliaranno la Fe destra, & poi la sinistra, & faranno tutte le dette attioni che si e detto nella seconda mutanza.
Nel quarto, & ultimo tempo faranno due Fioretti a pie pari, con due Passi presti fiancheggiati indietro, & un Seguito semidoppio alla sinistra, principiando col pie sinistro: Il medesimo faranno principiando col pie destro, alla destra: dopo innanzi, faranno due Passi presti, & due battute col pie sinistro indietro faranno due Seguiti spezzati fiancheggiati, al fine faranno due Riprese, & due Trabuchetti, con un Seguito spezzato volto alla sinistra, & la Cadenza col destroy incontro, & col far la Riuerenza contra tempo, finiranno la Cascarda.
Translation
With many thanks to Talan ap Gryffyd for translating.
This Cascarda is primarily an encounter and begins with a Riuerenza Minima; then they form a wheel and do four Seguiti spezzati, and four Trabuchetti, with three more Seguiti spezzati, that is, two flank from behind, and a face to the left, and the Cadence to the right.
The second time, the man will make just two Passi Presti forward, and two Trabuchetti, and a Seguiti spezzati to the left, and the Cadence, the same again. Do the same thing again to the opposite; then the man performs the Fe to the right to the lady, and does two Seguiti spezzati, and two Passi presti, and the Cadence, changing place: do the same again performing the Fe to the left, beginning with the right foot, everyone returning to their place.
In the third section, the ladies will do the same that the men did: first perform the Fe in its entirety to the right and then the left, and they will make all the aforesaid steps in the second section.
The fourth and last time they will make two Fioretti a pie pari, with two Passi presti flanking behind them, and Seguita semidoppio to the left, beginning with the left foot: Do the same beginning with the right foot: after that they will do one forward, then they will make two Passi presti, and they will make two strokes with the left foot behind, they will make two Seguiti spezzati flanking to them, then at the end they will do two reprises, and two Trabuchetti, with one Seguito spezzato to the left, and the Cadence with encounter to the right, and making the Riuerenza in counter time, finally the Cascarda.
Reconstruction
| Section | Count | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Verse 1 | 1-4 5-12 13-16 |
Riuerenza
Minima Four Spezzati in a wheel, turning clockwise Facing partner, four Trabuchetti |
| Chorus 1 | 1-4 5-8 9-12 13-16 |
Flank backward with two Spezzati, left foot first Turn left in one Spezzato and Cadenza Flank backward with two Spezzati, right foot first Turn right in one Spezzato and Cadenza |
| Verse 2 Lord’s Solo |
* 1-2 3-4 5-8 9-10 11-12 13-16 |
(The Lord dances this part alone) Two Passi toward partner (left foot first) Two Trabuchetti (left then right) Turn left in one Spezzato and Cadenza Two Passi toward partner (right foot first) Two Trabuchetti (right then left) Turn right in one Spezzato and Cadenza |
| Chorus 2 | 1-4 5-8 9-12 13-16 |
Take right hands and wheel a half turn clockwise in two Spezzati Release hands and take two Passi presti turning back ccw and Cadenza Take left hands and wheel a half turn ccw in two Spezzati Release hands and two Passi presti back cw and Cadenza |
| Verse 3 Lady’s Solo |
1-16 | Same as Verse 2, except the Lady dances instead of the Lord |
| Chorus 3 | 1-16 | Same as Chorus 2 |
| Verse 4 | 1-2 3-4 5-8 9-10 11-12 13-16 |
Two Fioretti a pie pari (left side first) Flank backward with two Passi presti (left foot first) Turn left with Seguiti Semmiodoppio (left foot first) Two Fioretti a pie pari (right side first)< Flank backward with two Passi presti (right foot first) Turn right with Seguiti Semmiodoppio (right foot first) |
| Chorus 4 | 1-2 3-4 5-8 9-10 11-12 13-16 * |
Two Passi presti (going forward) Stomp twice with the left foot, striking behind the right foot Flank backwards with two Spezzati Two Ripresa to the left Two Trabuchetti, left then right Turn left in one Spezzato and Cadenza Riuerenza (as last chord fades) |
Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Cadenza | A cadenza is a small, vertical hop. |
| Fioretti a pie pari | Often called "bells", this step is basically a swinging motion of the feet. If starting to the left, swing your left leg out and back, then swing your right leg out and back. |
| Passi | Single steps |
| Riuerenza Minima | A riuerenza is a bow. To perform a 16th century Italian bow, place your left foot behind your right and bend your knees, keeping your back straight. A riuerenza minima is a four-count riuerenza. |
| Spezzati | A spezzato is similar to a modern step-ball-change. To perform a left spezzato, step forward with your left foot, bring your right toe up to (or even under) your left heel, and then step out again with your left foot. |
| Seguiti Semmiodoppio | Two passi immediately followed by one spezzato. |
| Trabuchetti | Single steps |