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Music genre

Jig

Jig is a music genre that emerged in Ireland and United Kingdom. It is usually classed as a form of Baroque dance, Scottish folk dance and Irish folk dance. Explore key artists and related styles.

Listen: Jig examples

Purcell TheFairyQueen ActI Jig Z629 Esmuc
1:11

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About Jig

Jig is a music genre that emerged in Ireland and United Kingdom. It is usually classed as a form of Baroque dance, Scottish folk dance and Irish folk dance.

From Wikipedia

The jig (Irish: port, Scottish Gaelic: port-cruinn) is a form of lively folk dance in compound metre, as well as the accompanying dance tune. It first gained popularity across the British Isles in the 16th-century, and was adopted on mainland Europe where it eventually became the final movement of the mature Baroque dance suite (the French gigue; Italian and Spanish giga). It is most associated with Irish dance music, Scottish country dance, French Canadian traditional music and dance, and the Métis people in Canada. Jigs were originally in quadruple compound metre, (e.g., 128 time), but have been adapted to a variety of time signatures, by which they are often classified into groups, including double jigs (68), slip jigs (98) and single jigs (128).

Genre family tree

Parent genres (↑) and subgenres (↓) of Jig.

  • ↑ Baroque dance
  • ↑ Scottish folk dance
  • ↑ Irish folk dance
  • ↑ folk dance music

Frequently asked questions

What is Jig?

Jig is a music genre that emerged in Ireland and United Kingdom. It is usually classed as a form of Baroque dance, Scottish folk dance and Irish folk dance.

Where and when did Jig originate?

Jig originated in Ireland and United Kingdom.

Sources & credits