habanera

habanera (SP N-F) dance, originally from Havana, Cuba, characterized by the alternation of triplets on the first beat and duplets on the second beat of each 2/4 bar. The habanera was introduced into Spain and then France by Sebastian de Iradier (1809–1865), a Basque from Alava who spent a long time in Cuba, and who was the Empress Eugénie's (1826–1920) voice teacher. His chanson »El Arreglito« (The Little Arrangement) inspired probably the best-known habanera in all music: the one sung by…