jig

The jig is a folk dance type as well as the accompanying dance tune type, popular in Ireland. It is sometimes seen in its French or Italian forms, gigue or giga, but these are more usually used for the baroque dance forms.

It is a popular tune-type within the traditions of Irish dance music, second only to the reel, and popular but somewhat less common in Scottish country dance music. It is transcribed compound meter. Double jigs are always transcribed in 6/8; slip jigs are always written in 9/8. Single jigs are most commonly transcribed in 6/8, but sometimes also in 12/8. Slides are transcribed in both 12/8 and 6/8.

The most common structure is two eight-bar parts, each of which is repeated (AABB). There are a number of tunes with three or more parts, and some in which the length of one or more parts varies from eight bars. As with most other types of dance tunes in Irish music, at a session or a dance it is common for two or more jigs to be strung together, flowing on without interruption.

In Cotswold morris, a jig is a dance performed by a single dancer, or sometimes two. Its music is not usually a jig in the sense given above.

Origins and etymology

While it is often stated that the jig is of Celtic origin, it is more than likely that this dance type originated in the Germanic countries. A closer look at the etymology of this word reveals that gig (g[i^]g) in its several variant forms describes a certain type of repetitive motion. Compare, for instance, Icelandic "geiga" (which means to "rove at random" or "take a sudden unexpected direction"), German "Geigen" (a "back and forth motion, usually with the bow on the strings of the violin"), and Bernese German "gyg-ampfe" ("to seesaw").

A jig can also be named after a Design and Technology machinary. It looks a bit like a big screw. It is to punch a hole into thick material eg. Wood.

References

• Alan Ng. irishtune.info Rhythm Definitions. Retrieved on 2006-02-23.

See also

• List of Scottish country dances