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Manuscrit de la Pavana per a guitarra de Francesc Tàrrega, del fons de l'Arxiu històric del Museu
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The pavana that is not danced

The first written records of the dance called pavana are from the beginning of the 16th century and most probably have an Italian origin. The rhythm, binary, was slow and dragging and served as an introduction or interlude for faster and more spectacular dances, such as the gallarda or courante. For centuries both dance and the music that accompanied it have been called this way, to the point that music and dance were dissociated and the pavanas were no longer necessarily for dancing, but became pieces of character with the rhythm of the dance. In the Historical Archive of the Museu de la Música are preserved the manuscript of the Pavana para guitarra by Francesc Tàrrega or the printed edition of the Pavana fàcil para manos pequeñas by Isaac Albéniz.