I am enjoying playing "Sir Charles Rant" - or "Sir Charle's Rant" - in
Peacock, but the title is interesting.
It obviously isn't a rant under the various definitions discussed here
recently, since it's in 6/8.
For those without Peacock who like words to rhythms, it doesn't refer to
tomato soup, gobstoppers, or anything like that, but rather seems to say
"Rant? this is no rant is no rant is no rant" etc.
So when, please, did the word come to specifically mean That Dance, and
what did it signify earlier? (Or was Sir Charles just an always angry
sort of chap?)
I know that Jigge/Gigge/Gigue/Jig etc went through a whole variety of
meanings between Elizabethan Theatre, baroque salon, and much more,
before coming to mean, well, what I'd call the tune Sir Charles Rant.
I apologise if there's some note in the back of a book/email on this
list which explains all, and I haven't seen the obvious.
With thanks,
Richard.
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