Cesare Negri (c. 1535 – c. 1605) was an Italian dancer and choreographer. He was nicknamed il Trombone, an ugly or jocular name for someone “who likes to blow his own horn”. Born in Milan, he founded a dance academy there in 1554. He was an active court choreographer for the nobility in Milan. He wrote Le Grazie d’Amore, the first text on ballet theory to expound the principle of the five basic positions. It was republished in 1604 as Nuove Inventioni di Balli (New Inventions of the Dance).
📜 Overview
The work “Nuove Inventioni di balli” (1604) by Cesare Negri (nicknamed Il Trombone) stands as one of the most important, detailed, and visually magnificent documents in the history of late Renaissance dance.
🏛️ Historical Context & Reissue
- The Milanese Master: Cesare Negri was the leading dance master at the brilliant court of Milan in the second half of the 16th century.
- The Two Editions: The work was originally published in 1602 under the evocative title “Le Gratie d’Amore” (The Graces of Love). In 1604, it was published again with minor modifications under the new title “Nuove Inventioni di balli” (New Inventions of Dance).
- Royal Dedication: The famous 1604 edition printed in Milan by Girolamo Bordone was dedicated to King Philip III of Spain. Librairie Camille Sourget +3
Content & Aristocratic Style
The book is expertly divided into three distinct treatises tailored specifically to the refined tastes of noble ladies and cavaliers:
- 🚶♂️ Part 1: Details courtly etiquette, correct physical posture, and basic walking steps. It also provides a valuable autobiographical list of his professional achievements and noble students.
- 🤸♂️ Part 2: Describes highly complex, virtuosic dance steps, leaps, and turns for male dancers, emphasizing the athletic “Galliard” style.
- 🎶 Part 3: Contains full choreographies for stylized Renaissance dances—such as balletti and brandi—originating from Italy, Spain, and France.
🎨 Music, Engravings & Innovation
- Groundbreaking Visuals: The book is famous for its 57 stunning, full-page copper engravings created by Leon Pallavicino from designs by Mauro Rovere. They serve as clear visual anchors showcasing correct foot placement and posture.
- Integrated Lute Music: Almost every single dance choreography is paired directly with its matching musical score, provided in both traditional mensural notation and Italian lute tablature.
- Early Ballet Roots: Negri’s meticulous footwork instructions are widely regarded by dance historians as early precursors to the five classic foundational positions of classical ballet.
🌍 Legacy & Availability
- Standard Repertoire: The catchy dance tunes from this book, such as the famous piece “Bianco Fiore”, have become standard staples for modern classical guitarists, lutenists, and early music ensembles.
- Digital Access: You can browse the original historical scores and tablature on platforms like the International Music Score Library Project or the high-resolution digital archives of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.