Polonaise 15th century. In later centuries it gained popularity among the nobility and townspeople. Polonaise in French Courts The polonaise or "polonez", was first introduced in the 17th century in French courts, although the form originated in Poland and was very popular throughout Europe. This dance in 3/4 meter was designed to entertain the French royal court. The term polonaise was used over the term "polonez" at the start of the 18th century. Princess Anna Maria of Saxony Princess Anna Maria of Saxony collected polonaises throughout her life time, collecting over 350. Her collection was focused on the finest examples of
Pavane pour une infante défunte actually conducted by Pedro de Freitas-Branco, under the supervision of Ravel, who was present at rehearsal and the recording session. Ravel himself made a piano roll recording of the piece in 1922. (His performance is approximately five minutes and forty seconds in length.) In addition to numerous recorded performances within the classical repertoire, the "Pavane" maintains a significant presence in popular music. In particular, the song "The Lamp Is Low" was adapted from it. More recently, the Pavane appears in dozens of popular albums under both French and English forms of its title. It was recorded by Pedro Aznar on