Definition of saraband in English:


(also sarabande)


  • 1A slow, stately Spanish dance in triple time.

    • ‘The Boada solo, with epaulement, hand on the hip, shoulder thrust slightly forward as part of the de rigueur presentation of a sarabande, is wonderfully elegant; Boada provided a restraint quite distinct from his ebullient Basilio.’
    • ‘In France, the dance became slower and more stately, as did the sarabande on its removal to France from Spain.’
    1. 1.1 A piece of music written for a saraband.
      • ‘It was the most satisfying sarabande of the concert.’
      • ‘Because its tempo is that of a sarabande, it actually is much less difficult than most performers think.’
      • ‘In reality, Variation 26 is nothing more than a sarabande with ornamental triplet 16 ths, which implies not an extremely fast tempo and loud volume, but rather a slow to moderate tempo and a more delicate and expressive performance.’


Early 17th century: from French sarabande, from Spanish and Italian zarabanda.