1. a slow, stately court dance of the 16th and 17th centuries
Usage: historical
2. the music composed for this dance, typically in duple meter
Usage: musical

Examples

• The courtiers performed an elegant pavan at the royal ball.
• Bach composed several pavans for keyboard instruments.
• The pavan was a popular dance form during the Renaissance.
• Musicians played a stately pavan as the nobles entered the hall.
• The dance master taught the students the steps of the pavan.
• Ravel’s famous Pavane for a Dead Princess is based on this dance form.