Terpsichore

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Terpsichore, Muse of Music and Dance, an oil on canvas painting by Jean-Marc Nattier (1739).

In Greek mythology, Terpsichore (pronounced /tərpˈsɪkəri/) (Τερψιχόρη) "delight of dancing" was one of the nine Muses, ruling over dance and the dramatic chorus. She lends her name to the word "terpsichorean" which means "of or relating to dance". She is usually depicted sitting down, holding a lyre, accompanying the dancers' choirs with her music. She is sometimes said to be the mother of the Sirens by Achelous. Her name comes from the Greek words τέρπω ("delight") and χoρός ("dance").

Historical References

• Terpsichore figures among her sisters in Hesiod's Theogony.
• When The Histories of Herodotus were divided by later editors into nine books, each book was named after a Muse. Terpischore was the name of the fifth book.

Modern References

• "Terpsichore" is the title of a large collection of dance tunes collected by Michael Praetorius, some originating with Pierre-Francisque Caroubel.
• Terpsichore is also found in Couperin's "Second Ordre" from the "Pièces de clavecin".
• Terpsichore is also found in the third version (HWV 8c) of Handel's opera Il pastor fido (1712). This opera is sometimes referred to as Terpsicore and Il pastor fido.
• The eighteeenth century French dancer and courtesan Marie-Madeleine Guimard named the private theater in her private palace (1766) the Temple of Terpsichore.
• British 32-gun frigate HMS Terpsichore commanded by Captain Bowen participated in the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1797).
• Olivia Newton-John plays the Terpsichore muse as "Kira" in the 1980 film Xanadu.

See also

• Muse
• Muses in popular culture

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