FACTOID # 13: The United States spends more money on its military than the next 12 nations combined.
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RELATED ARTICLES
People who viewed "Zwiefacher" also viewed:
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

SEARCH ALL

FACTS & STATISTICS    Advanced view

Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 

 

(* = Graphable)

 

 


Encyclopedia > Zwiefacher

The Zwiefacher is a quick south German folk dance with changing beat patterns. Folk dance is a term used to describe a large number of dances that tend to share the following attributes: They were originally danced in about the 19th century or earlier (or are, in any case, not currently copyrighted); Their performance is dominated by an inherited tradition rather than by...

Contents


Distribution

The main distribution area of the Zwiefacher is Bavaria, especially Lower Bavaria, Hallertau and Upper Palatinate; it is also known in the Black Forest, Austria, Alsace, the Czech Republic and Sudetenland. The Free State of Bavaria  (German: Freistaat Bayern), with an area of 70,553 km² (27,241 square miles) and 12. ... Lower Bavaria (German Niederbayern) is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the east of Bavaria. ... The Hallertau or Holledau is an area in Bavaria, Germany. ... The Upper Palatinate (Oberpfalz) is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the east of Bavaria. ... The Black Forest (German Schwarzwald) is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. ... Capital Strasbourg Land area¹ 8,280 km² Regional President Adrien Zeller (UMP) (since 1996) Population  - Jan. ... Parts of Czech lands with significant German speaking population (first half of 20th century) Sudetenland (German: Sudetenland; Czech: Sudety) was the name used from 1938–45 for the region inhabited mostly by Sudeten Germans (German: Sudetendeutsche, Czech: SudetÅ¡tí NÄ›mci) in the various places of Bohemia, Moravia, and parts...


The name

It is believed the word Zwiefach (first documented in 1780 and loosely translated as "two times") comes not from the habitual two different time signatures, but from the couple being tightly wound against each other, a departure from earlier traditions.


The dance was originally known by various other names in different regions, such as Schweinauer, Schleifer, Übernfuaß, Mischlich, Grad und Ungrad, Neu-Bayerischer and, above all Bairischer (meaning Farmer Dance and sometimes confused with the Bavarian Polka.) Polka is a type of dance and genre of dance music; it originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia, and is still a common genre of Czech folk music; it is also common both in Europe and in the Americas. ...


Choreography

The couple turn very quickly in close position, similar to the Waltz. The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in 3/4 time, done primarily in closed position. ...


The main feature of this dance is the alternation between even and odd time signatures, e.g. from 3 to 2 beats per bar. The changes may occur in a regular way - for example, two measures per time signature - or may change only once, or irregularly throughout. The time signature (also known as meter signature) is a notational device used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each bar and what note value constitutes one beat. ... Measure can mean: To perform a measurement. ...


While dancing, the rhythm change looks like a change from normal waltzsteps to drehersteps, occasionally also to polkasteps. The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in 3/4 time, done primarily in closed position. ... Polka is a type of dance and genre of dance music; it originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia, and is still a common genre of Czech folk music; it is also common both in Europe and in the Americas. ...


Musical notation

Lyrics

It's hard to dance many Zwiefachers. Dancers had to learn them by heart, and it was easier to study the text than just the melody. This lead to the diffusion of many songtexts for the melodies. Nevertheless, new lyrics have been used together with old melodies, like the McDonalds-Parody "Hunger kriag i glei" by "Bayrisch-Diatonischer Jodelwahnsinn" which has the same music of the Suserl-Zwiefache. McDonalds Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is the worlds largest chain of fast-food restaurants [1]. Although McDonalds did not invent the hamburger or fast food, its name has become nearly synonymous with both. ...


In the past, dancers used to sing before the music was played. If the music didn't follow the Zwiefache appropriately, it was laughed at. This was another reason to create lyrics.


History

The first Zwiefachers came to life even before the bar line was invented. There is signature-changing music of the 16th century; however, we don't know whether people danced to this music. (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ...


Carl Orff composed one dance of his Carmina Burana in the Zwiefacher form. Carl Orff Carl Orff (July 10, 1895 – March 29, 1982) was a German composer, most famous for Carmina Burana (1937). ... Carmina Burana (IPA: ) is a collection of 13th-century songs and poetry, the basis for Carl Orffs 20th-century musical settings, first performed in 1937. ...


The Furiant in Act Two of Bedrich Smetana's The Bartered Bride is also a Zwiefacher. The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... The Bartered Bride (in Czech, Prodaná nevěsta) is the second opera of eight by Bedřich Smetana. ...


Examples

  • Eisenkeilnest (http://www.dancilla.com/search.asp?crit=Eisenkeilnest)
  • 's Luda (http://www.dancilla.com/search.asp?crit=Luada)

External links

See also


  Results from FactBites:
 
Hambo and Zwiefacher Workshop, 14/03/2004 (696 words)
Compare this with the 4 flickor pass familjehambo (wmv) and the 2 och 2 efter varandra familjehambo (wmv) danced in couples instead of a circle.
Zwiefacher are dances with changing rhythm, most often a combination of waltz and two-step bars, sometimes with also polka bars, what is then rather called a Vielfacher, such as the Vielfacher composed by Senn René.
Zwiefacher should however be danced smoothly, only moving in a horizontal plane.
  More results at FactBites »


 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.