A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Rigadoon

RIGADOON (French Rigadon or Rigaudon), a lively dance, which most probably came from Provence or Languedoc, although its popularity in England has caused some writers to suppose that it is of English origin. It was danced in France in the time of Louis XIII, but does not seem to have become popular in England until the end of the 17th century. According to Rousseau it derived its name from its inventor, one Rigaud, but others connect it with the English 'rig,' i.e. wanton, or lively.

The Rigadoon was remarkable for a peculiar jumping step (which is described at length in Compan's 'Dictionnaire de la Danse,' Paris, 1802); this step survived the dance for some time. The music of the Rigadoon is in 2–4 or C time, and consists of three or four parts, of which the third is quite short. The number of bars is unequal, and the music generally begins on the third or fourth beat of the bar. The following example is from the 3rd Part of Henry Playford's 'Apollo's Banquet' (6th edition, 1690). The same tune occurs in 'The Dancing Master,' but in that work the bars are incorrectly divided.

[ W. B. S. ]