The Pavane, Pavan, paven, Pavin, pavian, Pavin, or pavyn (It. Pavana, PADOVANA, Ger. Paduana) is a slow processional dance common in Europe during the 16th century (Renaissance).
The origin of this term is not known. Possibilities include the word being
from Italian "[danza] Padovana", meaning "[dance] typical of Padua [1] (as in Berga Mask), this is consistent with the equivalent form," Paduana "
or from the Spanish meaning peacock Pavón (Sachs 1937, 356),
though the dance was "almost certainly of Italian origin" (Brown 2001).
The decorous sweep of the pavane more sober suited the new Spanish-influenced courtly manners of 16th century Italy. It appears in dance manuals in England, France, and Italy. The musical pavane survived hundreds of years after the dance itself was abandoned, especially in the form of the tombeau. Louis XIV's court at the pavane was superseded by the current.
The classical composition Pavane (1887) by Gabriel Faure. (This is a modern version of the Renaissance version.)
The classical composition Pavane pour une infante défunte (1899) by Maurice Ravel.