Gavotte
The gavotte is a French folk dance which takes its name from the Gavot people of the Pays de Gap region of Dauphiné, where the dance originated. It is in 4/4 or 2/2 time and is of moderate tempo. An unusual feature is that phrases begin in the middle of the bar (so if it is in 4/4 time, they begin on the third beat crotchet of the bar with a two-beat upbeat).
It became popular in the court of Louis XIV where Jean-Baptiste Lully wrote music. Several other classical composers wrote examples, with it being a popular constituent of the Baroque suite - it is found in those by Johann Sebastian Bach, for example.
The gavotte is typically in binary form.
