A French theatre dance of the 17th and 18th centuries, frequently used as an entrée. Sometimes described as a slow gigue, it is usually in 3/4 or 6/4; characteristic rhythms include dotted figures, syncopations, hemiolas and a quaver/eighth-note-crotchet/quarter-note or crotchet/quarter-note-minim/half-note upbeat. There are stylized loures in Bach's French Suite no.5 for keyboard and Partita in E for violin. (It should not be confused with the bowstroke louré, an articulated slur.)


