Theballata (plural:ballate) is an Italianpoetic andmusical form in use from the late 13th to the 15th century. It has the musical form AbbaA, with the first and laststanzas having the same texts. It is thus most similar to theFrench musical 'forme fixe'virelai (and not theballade as the name might otherwise suggest). The first and last "A" is called aripresa, the "b" lines arepiedi (feet), while the fourth line is called a "volta". Longer ballate may be found in the form AbbaAbbaA, etc. Unlike the virelai, the two "b" lines usually have exactly the same music and only in later ballate pick up the (formerly distinctly French) first and second (open and close) endings. The term comes from the verbballare, todance, and the form certainly began as dance music.
