Exploring Renaissance Music: Pavana No.1 by Luis de Milan

This performance of Luis de Milan's Pavana No.1 by Dave Belcher comes from our brand new course on Exploring Renaissance Music at CGC Academy. This new course is co-taught by Nicoletta Todesco and Dave Belcher and features 30+ pieces of music from three different genres: dances, songs, and instrumentals.
This is a comprehensive look at music for the lute and vihuela from the Renaissance period and introduces you to a ton of new music as well as using F# tuning, ornamentation and divisions, using the capo, stylistic elements, tablature, modes and harmony, and more.
Join CGC Academy today to get access to the first four lessons that are already released, including this Pavana by Milan.
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Luis de Milan’s El Maestro was published in 1536 as an instruction book for the vihuela da mano. The vihuela was a Spanish instrument similar to the lute, but smaller (it was later introduced to Italy and there became the viola da mano). The book consists of more than 40 fantasias, tentos, romances, villancicos, and songs. In the middle of the fantasias are six pavanas, which Milan also calls fantasias and says are Italian dances of a quick character. As a book of instruction, all of the music is meant to be progressive, and so Pavana no. 1 is the easiest, or at least it is according to Milan.
There are several features of this work that prove challenging. First, it is a pavana, and so it is important to capture the dance feel. A pavana was typically a slow processional dance from Padua in Italy. Milan indicates that the tempo should be “compás algo apresurado,” which means a somewhat hurried tempo. In modern terms we might think of this similar to Andante. In addition, for each of the six pavanas, Milan indicates what mode or “tonos” it is in. Pavana 1 mixes modes 1 and 2, Dorian and Hypodorian. To simplify matters, you can consider the piece to move around a key center of A minor, but with F#’s throughout. However, you will also encounter other accidentals in the piece, owing to something called “musica ficta” where composers and performers would add accidentals to alter the character of a note or notes, usually at cadences.
Because Milan considers the pavanas to be “fantasias” the writing is very similar: it features several themes that are developed through intricate polyphonic textures. Once again, then, paying close attention to voicing and legato is very important for succeeding with this music.
Milan tells us that his vihuela is tuned to “A,” which you can approximate by placing a capo on the 5th fret, but you may find that you get more resonance out of the instrument by using a capo at the 2nd fret. However, use of the capo is completely optional (though it does make some stretches considerably easier). Standard tuning works a bit better for this piece than Renaissance F# tuning.

[@ntnrgbrgbrgn7818]

nice music DAVE!

[@drewburgess3039]

Terrific Dave! Wonderful expression. I love the ornamentation.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you, Drew!

[@farmerwayne1404]

Very, very nice!! Ty...

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you, Wayne!

[@johnhamilton2213]

Milan would be proud of you, Dave. That was sublime!

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you, John! He may wonder what this strange instrument might be I'm playing his music on, though!

[@johnwestcott5606]

Beautiful!👏

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you, John!

[@lindatsardakas]

This is absolutely lovely Dave! Love the ornamentation in the repeat - so masterful.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you, Linda! - Dave B

[@donnaz6069]

Incredibly inspiring!! 👏👏👏👏👏

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you, Donna!

[@paullaveurt1111]

So enjoyable Dave

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you, Paul!

[@ClassicalGuitarMusings]

Excellent

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you!

[@drdavid62]

That was absolutely awesome! Your performance truly stands apart from what we are so accustomed to hearing when this piece is shared by many excellent performers on CZcams. Great job!

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you so much! I have a lot of fun with this music (early music is really special to me). -Dave B

[@violaoquetoca]

Very good

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. -Dave B

[@user-tr4py2ev5l]

сложно и очень красиво 🎶

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@paulw8583]

Nice work Davo, takes me back to the times of Robin Hood. 🤠🦘👍

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you, Paul! Yes, we actually have one piece coming with Robin Hood in the title and another that may be referencing the figure of Robin Hood. :)