Française
Lively French round dance in 6/8 time, popular in Germany in the 19th century.
What it means
The française is a lively French social dance in 6/8 time danced in groups. The name simply means “the French one.” It belongs to the family of contredanses, in which couples dance together in lines or figures.
Musical use
In the 19th century the française was also a popular dance in Germany, at balls and in the family circle, and was printed in collections for piano. It often stood at the end of a dance sequence and had a cheerful, lively character. It is closely related to the contredanse and the quadrille, from which the later quadrille of the 19th century emerged.
The française should be distinguished from the écossaise, a contredanse with a Scottish name in duple metre, and from the waltz, which is in triple metre and danced as a couple dance. It also differs from the minuet through its faster tempo and sociable group dance.
Performance practice
Play the française with an even, cheerful pulse with two main beats per bar and with light, clear articulation. If you accompany it for dancing, keep the tempo steady, since dancers need a reliable pulse.