pavane

pavane

Pavane, “The Dance in the Garden” illumination from the Roman de la rose, …

(credit: Reproduced by permission of the British Library)

Stately court dance introduced from southern Europe into England in the 16th century. The dance, consisting of forward and backward steps to music in duple time, was originally used to open ceremonial balls; later its steps became livelier and it came to be paired with the quick galliard in triple time.

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pavane, pavan

1. a slow and stately dance of the 16th and 17th centuries

2. a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance, usually characterized by a slow stately triple time