Zwiefacher

The first documented use of the word zwiefach was in 1780. Generally translated as "twice" or "double". While this is indicative of two different time signatures, the title is believed to refer to the couple hugging each other, unlike previous traditions. The dance is still known by various names in different regions, such as Schweinauer, Schleifer, Übern Fuaß, Mischlich, Grad und Ungrad, Neu-Bayerischer and above all Bairischer (meaning Farmer's Dance, a name sometimes confused with Bavarian dance). The presence of names should not be surprising, the dance is older than the modern German language. It should not be surprising that melodies have more than one name. Felix Hoerburger, a German dance researcher, cataloged 112 different Zwiefacher tunes with 474 different names.