Saltarello
Lively Italian leaping dance.
What it means
The saltarello (from Italian saltare, "to jump") is a lively Italian dance, usually in a fast 3/8 or 6/8 metre, whose name refers to the dancers' characteristic small leaping steps.
Musical use
Already in the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the saltarello was popular as an after-dance following a slower, duple dance such as the pavane or basse danse, repeating the same melody in a faster, uneven rhythmic guise. As a folk dance it survived in central Italy into modern times, and it inspired, among others, Felix Mendelssohn's finale for his "Italian Symphony". The saltarello is distinguished from similar leaping dances such as the galliard by its specifically Italian origin and its character, usually conceived as an after-dance.
Performance practice
Play the saltarello with a springy, slightly leaping articulation, so the dance's origin remains audible, and keep the tempo noticeably faster than any preceding slow dance.