Pavane.
Source: Orchesographie, written by Thoinot Arbeau and published in 1588-1589.
Steps.
- Step forward with your LEFT foot and bring your RIGHT foot together with it. (Single)
- Step forward with your RIGHT foot and bring your LEFT foot together with it. (Single)
- Step forward with your LEFT foot, step forward with your RIGHT foot, step forward with your LEFT foot; bring your RIGHT foot together with it. (Double)
- Step forward with your RIGHT foot and bring your LEFT foot together with it. (Single)
- Step forward with your LEFT foot and bring your RIGHT foot together with it. (Single)
- Step forward with your RIGHT foot, step forward with your LEFT foot, step forward with your RIGHT foot; bring your LEFTfoot together with it. (Double)
- REPEAT until music ends.
This dance troupe is using the song published by Arbeau for the pavane,
though any song from around the time Orchesographie was published
and called a pavane is likely to have the proper beat for dancing.
though any song from around the time Orchesographie was published
and called a pavane is likely to have the proper beat for dancing.
Variations.
Listed in Orchesographie:
- One sequence forward, one backward. This is what Arbeau describes as the basic pavane.
- Move always forward. Though this is what is described above, this is technically the first variation, as Arbeau describes the dance as moving forward on the sequence starting with the left foot and backwards on the sequence starting with the right foot. Done in this fashion the dance does not process anywhere, so it is usually done as described above. This is listed in the Orchesographie as the first variation.
- Conversion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPMGY5-mDgM (In order to turn around, the man moves backward in a half-circle as the woman continues forward, also in a half-circle, for one pavane sequence.) Arbeau suggests this instead of making a lady dance backwards, lest she trip on her skirts.
- Two forward, two backward.
- Do the singles sideways, and the doubles forward or backward, or alternating.
- Man can kneel while woman does pavane step around him.
- May move apart from each other to perform a simple figure of some type.
- The stereotypical medieval hands up circling of partners works well with the pavane step, as does arming or siding.
Resources.
- Pavane steps. http://www.sca.org.au/del/ddb/sections/other_french_dances1.html
- Pavanes on Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavane
Music.
There are MP3s of the song "Belle Qui Tiens Ma Vie" available on Amazon to purchase:
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The playlist I've created here uses music that I believe is written to be the same beat as what is needed to dance a pavane. I'm not certain of the time period of any of them, but I have listened to the beginning portions of each to assure that the music seems to fit the basic pavane steps.
In addition I've ordered them based on how easily I think a pavane might be danced to each piece. So the songs earlier on the list seem easier to dance to and the ones at the end seem more difficult. I've eliminated all the pavanes that don't have a drum. The dancers ability to hear the drum beat goes a long way towards making the song dance-able. If you notice the song speeding up, that is the part of the suite for the galliard, a much faster dance. Many of the pieces are the same song, but there are different recordings, orchestrations and arrangements so you don't get too bored while you practice your pavanes at home. ;) |
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