Often the last movement found in a developed suite of instrumental
dances. It originated in
Ireland and
England as the
jig but came to
France by the 1650s whereupon it became a part of the lute repertory. In
Italy the gigue was found in a great deal of
violin music played at a very quick tempo. The rhythms are often written in triadic duple (6/8 and 12/8) where there are two or four beats in the measure but each
beat is comprised of three eighth notes. Melodically the musical phrases are continuous,
consistent but
repetitive as well.
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