Sarabande

The sarabande is a slow, stately Spanish dance in triple meter. Along with the allemande, courante, and gigue, the sarabande was one of the most popular instrumental dances from Baroque era. The origin of the dance form may have been Guatemala, Mexico, Spain, or Latin America. It may also have been brought from Persia to Spain in the early sixteenth century. Later, in France, it became a slow and solemn courtly dance. In the seventeenth century, it was brought to Italy. Composers during the eighteen-century composed four-movement dance suites including the sarabande, which was usually paired with a gigue and included as the third movement. Its musical characteristics include an emphasis on the second beat of the triple meter, binary form, and a slow, stately tempo.