A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Galliard
GALLIARD (Ital. Gagliarda; Fr. Gaillarde). An old dance, as its name implies, of a merry character. 'I did think,' says Shakspeare, 'by the excellent constitution of thy leg that it was formed under the star of a galliard.' It was generally in 3-4, but sometimes in common time. It was described by Praetorius as 'an invention of the devil,' and 'full of shameful and obscene gestures, and immodest movements.' From the fact of its coming from Rome it was also called Romanesca. Its rhythms were strongly marked. The following quotation gives the opening bars of a gagliarda of the 17th century:—
[ E. P. ]