Pavana Hispanica

The Pavane (Pavana-Pavanne-Pavin-Panicin) was a dance of courtly and solemn nature very much en vogue with the high society in Europe.

In the sixteenth century it was originally believed to be an animal dance from Padua (Italy) and was known as the Padovana or the "Peacock dance" (Pavo) Others believed the dance was invented in Spain.

General opinion nowadays places the origin of the pavane in early 16th century Italy.

The "Pavane d’Espagne" was very populiar in England and the Low Countries. and can be found in the works of Sweelinck (Pavana Hispanica) and "Valerius Gedenkklank van 1626

Variations by J.P. Sweelinck and S. Scheidt, SwWV 327.

The first setting of this tune is by Antonio de Cabézon (Obras de musica, Madrid 1578) and is called Pavana Italiana.

Variations 1, 5, 7 and 8 by Sweelinck and 2, 3, 4, 6 by Scheidt (probably, though opinions of the experts on this differ).