A lively, spirited dance of French or Irish origin that was popular in the 17th and 18th centuries; a musical composition written to accompany this dance.
From French gigue, possibly from English 'jig' or vice versa, or from Old French gigue meaning fiddle. The dance became a standard movement in instrumental suites.
The gigue is the fastest movement in a Bach suite—it's so fast it's almost chaotic, making it beloved by composers who wanted to show off technical skill (and possibly annoy their aristocratic audiences).
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