Finding a new, toe-tapping tune is not something you’d typically look for at the library; however, your National Library has the largest archive of sheet music in Australia. After all, sheet music scores can be books too! Let’s hit the dance floor while exploring our collection of sheet music.
Waltz
The Waltz is up first, so if your household is larger than two and you’re accompanying dancers, move the couch and roll up the rug on the living room floor to allow the dancers enough space for this ballroom dance. It is usually performed at a moderately fast triple time, with the dancers moving in a series of circles, taking one step to each beat.
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Among the titles our collection has to offer are:
- Waltz brilliante by D. Henry Stewart
- A Waltz of Memory by Nella G. Nicholas
- The Lily Waltz by Thomas Zeplin
- Tomorrow Waltz by Dorothea Ryan
Tango
The Tango is a dance of Spanish-American origin, danced by couples, and having many varied steps, figures, and poses. A hallway however should do just fine for the main move featured in popular culture references if you do want to try the dance at home, just be sure to avoid tripping on the floor runner and knocking the vase (presumably filled with red roses) off the console when turning.
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Dance up a storm with the following online scores:
- The Tango Rag (pictured above) by Reginald A. A. Stoneham
- That Tango Tea Tango by George Bryer
- The Tango Tangle also by George Bryer
- Bentzen Tango by Silvo Arno
Polka
The Polka is a lively round dance of Bohemian origin, with music in duple time. The polka has been forever etched into the minds of generations of school children via ‘Barn Dance’ favourite, the Heel and Toe Polka, but why not step out of your comfort zone and try the Kangaroo Polka instead?
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Aside from the Kangaroo Polka, you could try one of these at home:
- The Bohemian and Parisian polka dance by Jacques Offenbach, arranged for piano by Louis Antoine Jullien
- The Champagne Polka by Charles d’Albert
- The Melbourne Polka, Sydney Polka and Adelaide Waltz by H. A. Kaines
- Lola Montez Polka by Paul Henrion
Gavotte
You may need to keep the living room rug rolled up for this one. The Gavotte is an old French dance in moderately quick 4/4 time. It is also noted as a piece of music for, or in the rhythm of, this dance, often forming one of the movements in the classical suite, usually following the saraband.
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Explore this dance through the following pieces:
- The Cicada Gavotte by Madeline Fitz-Stubbs
- Gavotte Antique by Albert Mildenberg
- Gavotte Marjorie by M. Devery
- Moon Dreams Gavotte by Anton Kindler
Finally, if you don’t want to get out on the dance floor (even if it is only in your living room), you may wish to travel through song. Perhaps a polka in Sydney, a march in Adelaide, a waltz in Canberra and a schottische in Melbourne.
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Find more sheet music
From studies for beginners to concertos for the advanced musician, for piano, guitar, cello, flute, trombone and numerous other instruments, find some new additions to your repertoire – or simply stave off lockdown boredom (pun intended). Use the music research guide and start playing along.
