Country: Denmark
Type: varies
Formation: varies
Sheet music:
(1) [in 2/4-time] 358:127
(2) [in 6/8 time] Schiørring, N./ Blandinger for Sang og Claveer - Som et Anhang til det første Bind, Kiøbenhavn 1787 in:
(3) Sørensen, Per "Mallebrok fra hele landet"
2. del og Engelsk Mallebrok,
May 2002.
Recordings:
Andreasen, Mogens [YouTube];
Danish Dia Delight Live track 08;
Eik Koch med Bertrand Bechs ensemble 1976 [YouTube];
Lang Linken Folk-live 1995-1996 track 13;
Lang Linken Kælighetstræet track B6;
Lang Linken Liv track 20;
Lars Lilholt Band & Dan-Tribe Tangokat [YouTube];
Larsen, Fin Alfred Filiong gong gong track 13 [YouTube];
Phønix 20 track 11 [YouTube];
rhiannon Diomuoti [YouTube];
Ribe danse- or spillemandslaug Så kom vi så vidt track 23;
Suleskær Over havet [YouTube];
Tingluti Ensemblet Syng og dans med Tingluti - Danske folkesange og -danse track B7;
Tøkum Lætt Føroyskur dansur fyri øll track 11
[YouTube].
| Mallebrok, Mandø
Type: couple dance Formation: any number of couples in open circle. Back crossed hold throughout, [ie. MR to WL side, facing in LOD]. According to Grüner-Nielsen, on Mandø this was occasionally danced by pairs of W. Steps: chassé (change step), polka. Sheet music: 358:127 |
||
| Bars | Part | Dance progression: |
| 1-8 | (a) | Couples dance turning polka. |
| 9-10 | (b) | [Without dropping hold,] couples turn with 3 small steps so that they are turned in the other direction and can look at each other. |
| 11-12 | With 3 small steps, couples turn back to previous orientation. | |
| 13-16 | Couples dance polka, | |
| 9-20 | Repeat (b).
Repeat from (a) as desired. Lyrics
Provenance: H. Bruun (1806) briefly mentions a dance done by the young girls to 'hertugen af Marlboroughs' song, in which "the girls demonstrate great facility in beating the rhythm with the heels of their clogs without them falling off". In 1916, J. Egedal and H. Grüner-Nielsen visited Manø in order to find out whether the dances described by Bruun were still being danced. The above description is their documentation of the dance, although they conclude it would have been too early for polka (or skotsk). Source: Grüner-Nielsen, H./ Folkelig vals. København: Det Schønbergske Forlag, 1920. pp. 68-69. |
|
| Mallebrok, Avernakø
Type: couple dance Formation: any number of couples in open circle. Back crossed hold throughout, ie. MR to WL side, facing in LOD. [According to Grüner-Nielsen, on Mandø this was occasionally danced by couples of W.] Steps: chassé (change step), polka. Sheet music: (1) 358:127, played at ♩=88 or (2) Foreningen til Folkedansens Fremme (FFF)/ Gamle danse fra Avernakø og Korshavn. 1:e udg. København: Foreningen til Folkdansens Fremme, 2001, pp. 22-23. |
||
| Bars | Part | Dance progression: |
| |:1-8:| | (a) | Beginning with outside (ML/WR) foot, couples dance chassé turning, M dancing forwards and W backwards, moving in LOD, 16 chassé steps. |
| 9-10 | (b) | Without dropping hold, M turns over L shoulder, W over R shoulder, 1 polka step (9) finishing with a stamp (10). |
| 11-12 | M turns over R shoulder, W over L shoulder, 1 polka step (11) and a stamp (12). | |
| 13-20 | Couples dance 7 chassé steps turning, finishing with a stamp (20). | |
| 9-20 | Repeat (b). | |
| Repeat from (a) as desired.
Provenance: documented by Viggo Hertel in 1909 and by both Viggo Hertel and H.C. Michelsen in 1911. A few descriptions are accompanied by a note to the effect that the music is a little different, but the tune chosen is number 201 in Mortensen's collection, called Mallebrok (Marlboroug). Source: Foreningen til Folkedansens Fremme (FFF)/ Gamle danse fra Avernakø og Korshavn. 1:e udg.
København: Foreningen til Folkdansens Fremme, 2001, pp. 22-23.
|
||
| Mallebrok, Himmerland
Type: couple dance Formation: any number of couples in open circle. Back crossed hold throughout, ie. MR to WL side, turned to face partner. Steps: polka. Sheet music: (1) 358:127, played at ♩=120. (2) Foreningen til Folkedansens Fremme (FFF)/ Gamle Himmerlands-danse. 4:e opl. København: Foreningen til Folkdansens Fremme, 1978, pp. 14-15. |
||
| Bars | Part | Dance progression: |
| |:1-8:| | (a) | Beginning with outside (ML/WR) foot, couples dance polka turning CCW, moving in LOD, 16 polka steps. |
| 9-10 | (b) | Without dropping hold, W turns half way round CW [over R shoulder], M half way round CCW [over L shoulder], to finish facing in RLOD. 1 polka-like step, beginning with outside (ML/WR) foot and with stamps (9). Both hop twice on ML/WR foot, while swinging free foot forward and back (10). |
| 11-12 | Couple turns back in the same manner, to face in LOD, W turning CCW and M turning CW. | |
| 13-16, 9-16 | Repeat (b) 3 times. A total of 8 turns, 4 to face RLOD and 4 to face LOD. | |
| Repeat from (a) as desired.
Source: Foreningen til Folkedansens Fremme (FFF)/ Gamle Himmerlands-danse. 4:e opl. København: Foreningen til Folkdansens Fremme, 1978, pp. 14-15. |
||
| Mallebrok, Møn
Type: couple dance Formation: any number of couples in open circle. Back crossed hold throughout, ie. MR to WL side, arms crossed behind, facing in LOD. Steps: chassé (change step), polka. Sheet music: (1) 358:127, played at ♩=120. (2) Foreningen til Folkedansens Fremme (FFF)/ Gamle danse fra Møn. 4:e opl. København: Foreningen til Folkdansens Fremme, 1997, p. 17. |
||
| Bars | Part | Dance progression: |
| |:1-8:| | (a) | With arms crossed behind, couples turn to face partner, and dance turning polka, moving in LOD, 16 polka steps. |
| 9-10 | (b) | M turns over L shoulder, W over R shoulder, 1 polka step (9). Both touch inside (MR/WL) heel to floor in front (10), while bending somewhat forward to peer at partner.. |
| 11-12 | M turns over R shoulder, W over L shoulder, 1 polka step (11). Both touch outside (ML/WR) heel to floor in front (12), while bending somewhat forward to peer at partner.. | |
| 13-16 | (c) | Couples dance turning polka, 4 polka steps. |
| Repeat from (a) as desired.
Source: Foreningen til Folkedansens Fremme (FFF)/ Gamle danse fra Møn. 4:e opl. København: Foreningen til Folkdansens Fremme, 1997, p. 17. |
||
| Mallebrok, Vejle Vesteregnen
Type: couple dance Formation: any number of couples in open circle. Front crossed hold with thumb-hold throughout the dance. Steps: polka, reeltrin (jig step) Sheet music: (1) 358:127, played at ♩=120. (2) Foreningen til Folkedansens Fremme (FFF)/ Gamle danse fra Vejle Vesteregn. 5:e opl. København: Foreningen til Folkdansens Fremme, 1997, pp. 8-9. |
||
| Bars | Part | Dance progression |
| |:1-8:| | (a) | With tight front cross hold, couples dance turning CW and moving in LOD, 16 polka steps.
Finish with M's back to the centre of the circle, W facing into circle. |
| 9 | (b) | Partners turn individually 1/4-turn, M to L, W to R, to face in LOD. 1 polka step. |
| 10 | M stamps with R foot, W with L foot. | |
| 11 | Partners turn individually 1/2-turn, M to R, W to L, to face in RLOD. 1 polka step. | |
| 12 | M stamps with L foot, W with R foot. | |
| 13-16 | Partners face each other, and dance 6 jig steps, finishing with a stamp on (16). | |
| 9-16 | Repeat (b). | |
| Repeat from (a) as desired.
Source: Foreningen til Folkedansens Fremme (FFF)/ Gamle danse fra Vejle Vesteregn. 5:e opl. København: Foreningen til Folkdansens Fremme, 1997, pp. 8-9. |
||
| Mallebrok, Vendsyssel
Type: couple dance Formation: any number of couples in open circle, waltz hold. Steps: chassé (change step), polka, reeltrin (jig step). Sheet music: (1) 358:127, (2) Burchenal, Elizabeth/ Folk-dances of Denmark p, 78. |
||
| Bars | Part | Dance progression |
| |:1-8:| | (a) | Couples dance turning polka moving in LOD, 16 polka steps.
[Finish with M's back to the centre of the circle, W facing into circle.] Hands on hips. |
| 9 | (b) | Beginning with outside (ML/WR) foot, couples dance 1 chassé step in LOD.
[Bovbjerg has partners moving in same direction (in LOD or RLOD) at the same time, as described. FFF and Burchenal have partners moving in opposite directions, ie both beginning with L foot.] |
| 10 | Couples stretch free foot across in front while clapping hands. | |
| 11-12 | Beginning with 'inside' (MR/WL) foot, couples repeat chassé and stretching opposite foot with clap, in RLOD . | |
| 13-16 | Partners face each other, and dance 8 jig steps. | |
| 9-16 | Repeat (b). | |
| Repeat from (a) as desired.
Source: Foreningen til Folkedansens Fremme (FFF)/ Beskrivelse af gamle Danske folkedanse hefte II. 6:e opl.
København: Foreningen til Folkdansens Fremme, 1995, p. 4.
|
||
| Molbrok, Læsø
Type: couple dance Formation: any number of couples in open circle, waltz hold. Steps: chassé (change step), polka, reeltrin (jig step). Sheet music: Krak, Kenneth et al/ Læsø - dans & musik. s.l.: Folkemusikhusringen, 1995. p. 50. |
||
| Bars | Part | Dance progression |
| |:1-8:| | (a) | Couples dance turning polka moving in LOD, 16 polka steps.
Finish facing partner, with M facing LOD, W facing RLOD. |
| 9-10 | (b) | Beginning with outside L foot, couples dance 1 chassé step and 2 walking steps to own L side, or a chassé-croisé, with a clap on the first beat (10:1). |
| 11-12 | Beginning with R foot, couples repeat chassé-croisé to own R side. | |
| 13-16 | Facing partner, dance 8 jig steps, moving in LOD, M moving forwards, W backwards. | |
| 9-16 | Repeat (b). | |
| Repeat from (a) as desired.
Provenance: the sheet music is transcribed based on Anna Juul playing it on a C harmonica. It has been transposed to the more violin-friendly key of G, which is how Levy Wilsen played it and Anna Juul sang it. Anna Juul's lyrics:
Source: Krak, Kenneth et al/ Læsø - dans & musik. s.l.: Folkemusikhusringen, 1995. pp. 50-51. |
||
| Mallebrok, Thy
Type: set dance Formation: sets of 2 couples facing, in closed circle. Steps: svingtrin (buzz step), chassé (change step), walk. Sheet music: (1) 358:127, played at ♩=112. (2) Foreningen til Folkedansens Fremme (FFF)/ Gamle danse fra Mors og Thy. 4:e opl. København: Foreningen til Folkdansens Fremme, 1985, p. 49. |
||
| Bars | Part | Dance progression: |
| 1-8 | 1 (a) | Couples circle CW, 16 walking steps. |
| 1-8 | Couples circle CCW, 16 walking steps. | |
| 9-10 | (b) | Both M advance with 1 chassé, beginning with R foot and finishing with a hop on R foot while bumping R shoulders. |
| 11-12 | Both M dance 1 chassé on the spot, beginning with L foot and finishing with a hop on L foot while bumping L shoulders. | |
| 13-16 | Both M take closed waist-shoulder hold and turn on the spot with 8 buzz steps. | |
| 9-16 | Both W repeat (b). | |
| Part (b) is the same in all sequences. | ||
| |:1-8:| | 2 (a) | Couples form R-hand star, and circle CW, 16 walking steps. Ditto CCW with L-hand star, 16 walking steps. |
| |:1-8:| | 3 (a) | Couples form 2-hand star, and circle CW, 16 walking steps. Ditto CCW, 16 walking steps. |
| |:1-8:| | The dance finishes with both couples in closed circle, moving CW with 16 walking steps. Ditto CCW, 16 walking steps.
See videos from/with KØST2017 Team Bornholm 2020, Sommerdans i Fælledparken 2019 with Christian Obel & public. Sommerdans i Fælledparken 2022 with Christian Obel & public. Sommerdans i Fælledparken 2023 with Christian Obel & public. Source: Foreningen til Folkedansens Fremme (FFF)/ Gamle danse fra Mors og Thy. 4:e opl. København: Foreningen til Folkdansens Fremme, 1985, p. 49.
|
|
| Engelsk Mallebrok
Type: mixer Formation: closed circle of couples, "as many as will" Steps: hurretrin (buzz step), gangtrin (walk) |
||
| Bars | Part | Dance progression: |
| |:1-8:| | (a) | All dance CW in the circle, 16 walking steps. Ditto CCW, 16 walking steps. |
| 9-16 | (b) | All turn to partner, and dance R-hand chain to 4th person, 6 walking steps (9-11) followed by 3 stamps (12). Take waltz hold with 4th on-coming person, and dance 8 buzz steps (13-16). |
| 9-16 | Repeat (b). | |
| Repeat from (a) as desired.
Provenance: The dance is an 'engelska' or English round dance, and is closely related to the Swedish engelska från Stigtomta. Source: personal communication from Christian Obel [in Danish]. |
Provenance: the tune
Malbrouk or Malbrook
is known in France as "Marlbrouck s'en vat en guerre", in Germany as "Marlbruck zog aus zum Kriege" and in England as "Malbrouck has gone
to battle". In Sweden it is known as "När Mellbom i krig skulle draga". In Norway it is known as a march and
military song, and on the Færoe Islands as 'Banda-dans', a line dance. In the USA it is known as 'For he's a jolly good fellow'.
It is has been theorized to
commemorate the death of the Duke of Marlborough at the battle of Malplaquet (1709) - he actually died later in 1722.
When it came to Denmark is uncertain - one early published version of the sheet music is from N. Schiørring
Blandinger for Sang og Claveer - Som et Anhang til det første Bind, Kiøbenhavn 1787 in:
Sørensen, Per "Mallebrok fra hele landet
2. del og Engelsk Mallebrok", May 2002.
According to Sørensen, the melody became well known throughout the western world. Beaumarchais uses the tune in his
"Mariage de Figaro" (1778) and Beethoven in his Opus 91 (1831).
Over time, the tune has been used for a variety of dances.
John Playford's English dancing master of 1706 includes a minuet "The
Marlborough", a longways set for 'as many as may', although with different music.
Among Swedish sources, Baron Fredrik Åkerhielms dansbok 1785 includes nr 130 "Malborough" (a quadrille), as does Fruntimmers almanack
jemte nya contradans tourer för innevarande år 1785,
The above Danish descriptions, the majority of
which were collected in the first decades of the 1900s by FFF, include couple dances, a dance for 2-couples, and a round dance with partner
change. Grüner-Nielsen mentions parallels to the version of the dance from Mandø in Fur, Tåsinge, Ærø,
Lolland and Rersø. He mentions also that in Dåstrup (Sjælland) 'Mallebrok' is a mens' dance similar to
Syvspring.
See also:
For additional information on the tune and lyrics in several languages, see
-- Brenner, C.D. "The eighteenth-century vogue of "Malbrough" and Marlborough" The Modern Language Review 45(2):177-180, Apr., 1950 (Jstor)
-- Traditional Tune Archive Marlbrouk)
-- Wikipedia
-- Mamma Lisa [French and English lyrics]
For additional information on the dance and tune from primarily Danish sources, see
-- Grüner-Nielsen, H./ Folkelig vals. København: Det Schønbergske Forlag, 1920. pp. 68-69.
-- Sørensen, Per "Mallebrok fra hele landet" 1. del &
2. del og Engelsk Mallebrok
in Dansens og musikkens rødder, nr 70, April 2002 & nr 71, May 2002.
[incl. Danish lyrics]
Translations and description: L. Ruus, Oakville, 2017-10-27, rev. 2023-07-14.
Tillbaka till innehållsförteckningen/Back to table of contents