Pavane and La Volta: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

McCashin's arrangement strips away nothing essential from these two dances, letting their natural elegance speak directly to your ensemble. The pairing of Pavane and La Volta creates a satisfying arc: the contemplative dignity of the first gives way to the sprightly energy of the second, making for programming that feels both educational and genuinely moving. At Grade 3, the writing is idiomatic for strings without burying the period character.

These dances breathe with the quiet formality of a Renaissance court. The Pavane unfolds with measured grace, almost processional in its restraint, while La Volta captures the spirited lightness of a social dance, energetic but never frantic. Together they offer a glimpse into music that was meant to move both body and mind.

String orchestras at the Grade 3 level who are ready to move beyond unison or simplified arrangements into real ensemble writing. Conductors looking to introduce Renaissance repertoire in a form that works for student musicians while honoring the music's authentic character.

• Shape the long lines of the Pavane with gentle dynamic swells; resist the urge to make Renaissance music sound brittle or detached.
• Coordinate articulation between sections in La Volta so the quick rhythmic figures stay crisp without sounding mechanical.
• Use the contrasting tempos to help students hear how dance form functioned in court music: the slow, processional dignity of the pavane sets up the vivacity of the volta.

Pair this with other Renaissance or early Baroque works to build a thematic concert around period style, or use it as a bridge piece between more contemporary repertoire and classical masterworks. It works equally well as an opener that sets a refined tone or as the centerpiece of a program exploring dance forms across centuries.

• Sustaining long lines across multiple phrases without losing shape
• Maintaining independent lines within ensemble textures typical of Renaissance writing
• Responding to subtle dynamic and articulation changes that distinguish dance character
• Reading and performing music in period style without compromising intonation or balance