From bowiki

Adapted From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

History

The term hornpipe refers to any of several dance forms played and danced in Britain and elsewhere from the late 17th century until the present day. It is said that hornpipe as a dance began around the 16th century on English sailing vessels. Movements were those familiar to sailors of that time: "looking out to sea" with the right hand to the forehead, then the left, lurching as in heavy weather, and giving the occasional rhythmic tug to their breeches both fore and aft.

The form dates back to the mid 18th century or earlier, but became much more popular in the early 19th century.

Musical Form

The most common use of the term nowadays refers to a class of tunes in 4/4 time. There are two basic types of common-time hornpipe, ones like the "Sailors' Hornpipe", moving in even notes, sometimes notated in 2/2, moving a little slower than a reel, and ones like "The Harvest Home", moving in dotted notes. Some 19th century examples mix the dotted and even styles. Hornpipes traditionally end on three even quarter notes of the same pitch, or similar pitches: a,a,a, or a,b,a, for example.

Please Expand This Article