Pavane Op. 50 (Arranged for Piano) Cover Image

Pavane Op. 50 (Arranged for Piano): Piano (Solo)

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Pavane Op. 50 (Arranged for Piano) Cover Image

Pavane Op. 50 (Arranged for Piano): Piano (Solo)

By Gabriel Fauré / arr. Wendy Hiscocks, Roy Howat / ed. Wendy Hiscocks and Roy Howat

Item: 98-EP7383

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Description
Edited and arranged by Wendy Hiscocks and Roy Howat.

Fauré made a piano transcription of the Pavane, but subsequently he revised his original orchestral score. Hiscocks and Howat's new transcription is true to the spirit of Fauré's arrangement. The preface quotes from Sir Adrian Boult's recollection that Fauré preferred (and played the piece at) a tempo considerably faster than the rather doleful interpretations one often hears.

Fauré composed the Pavane in the summer of 1887, originally as a purely orchestral piece for the concert series of the Parisian conductor Jules Danubé. For some reason Danubé left it unperformed, a miscalculation he must have later regretted when the piece became immensely popular in various forms for orchestra or piano, with or without voices.

In 1975, in letters to Robert Orledge, Sir Adrian Boult recalled meeting Fauré and hearing him play at the London home of Leo Frank Schuster in 1906 and 1908.

Sir Adrian concludes:

"May I ask you to do all you can to prevent the prevalent performances of the Pavane as if it were a piece of German Romanticism, written by someone like Schumann with a full measure of sentiment. The words are obviously a leg-pull, and the scene is a number of young people dancing and chaffing each other. . ."

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Additional Details
Series: Edition Peters
Publisher: Edition Peters
Page Count: 16
ISBN10: 0-57-708327-9
ISBN13: 979-0-5770-8327-8
SKU: 98-EP7383

More about this title

About the Composer: Gabriel Fauré

Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) shaped French musical language at the intersection of tradition and innovation. His harmonic language, built on subtle voice-leading and unexpected chromatic turns, influenced composers across Europe and taught generations that elegance need not rely on bombast.

Why we love this

This new transcription cuts through the sentimental fog that has surrounded the Pavane for over a century. Hiscocks and Howat restore the piece to Fauré's own intent, supported by Boult's firsthand recollection that the composer played it with considerably more lift and rhythmic ease than most recordings suggest. Students encounter a work they think they know, then discover its actual character.

What to expect

The Pavane unfolds as a graceful dance frozen in time, more conversational than mourning. Its gentle melody floats over supporting harmonies that shift color with each phrase, creating an atmosphere of introspection without despair.

Who it's for

Intermediate to advanced pianists looking for French Romantic repertoire that demands musicality without extreme technical demands. This edition suits students exploring Fauré's harmonic world and teachers assembling recital programs that highlight lesser-known facets of a familiar composer.

How to get the most out of it

  • Respect the tempo suggestion in the preface; the Pavane benefits from forward motion that lets the melody breathe rather than languish.
  • Shape the left hand's supporting figures with clear articulation so the accompaniment propels rather than cushions the right-hand line.
  • Notice how Fauré's harmonic shifts often arrive on weak beats; let those moments land without dragging the tempo.
  • The optional optional violin part referenced in the original context may inform your interpretation of phrase contour even in solo piano form.

How to use it

Pair this with other works from Fauré's instrumental catalog to build a recital segment on his keyboard writing, or use it as a lyrical foil to pieces with greater surface drama. The 16-page length makes it ideal for a concert position that allows breathing room without filling substantial time.

Skills your students will build

  • Interpreting tempo markings against historical performance practice
  • Balancing melody and accompaniment texture in nineteenth-century salon music
  • Understanding how harmonic chromaticism shapes phrasing and cadence
  • Recognizing Fauré's approach to form and repetition

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