Habanera

(often misspelled habañera). The dance of Havana, in DUPLE meter, at a moderately slow tempo. The meter of the habanera is 4 and its most characteristic rhythmic figure is a dotted eighth note followed by a sixteenth note and two eighth notes.

The origin of the habanera as a folk dance is unknown The most popular theory is that the habanera was an offspring of the English country dance. According to this theory, country dance became contredanse in France and contradanza in Spain, the name that was abbreviated to danza in 1800. In 1825, it appeared in Cuba as danza habanera, and later simply as habanera.

Perhaps the most famous habanera is the one that Carmen sings in GEORGES BIZET's opera, but it was not Bizet's tune. He picked it up from a collection of songs by the Spanish composer SEBASTIÁN YRADIER, published in 1864, in which it appeared under the title El Arreglito, with a French subtitle, Chanson havanaise. (Yradier also composed the famous habanera, La Paloma)) But since the action of Carmen takes place in southern Spain, what is a ditty from Havana, Cuba, doing in it anyway?

The famous habanera in CARMEN was inserted in the opera at the last minute by Bizet. The opera's producers were unhappy with the score, and begged the composer to add a song that would appeal to the crowds. The result was the most memorable song in the opera, and one of the most recognizable melodies in all classical music.

Among other composers who wrote dances in the rhythm of the habanera are ISAAC ALBÉNIZ, CLAUDE DEBUSSY, MAURICE RAVEL, EMMANUEL CHABRIER, an d MANUEL DE FALLA.