passacaglia Definition
- 1a musical form that originated in the 17th century, typically in triple time and consisting of a series of variations on a ground bass
- 2a piece of music written in passacaglia form
Using passacaglia: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "passacaglia" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The composer wrote a beautiful passacaglia for the orchestra.
Example
The passacaglia is a popular form in baroque music.
Example
The piece begins with a simple passacaglia theme that is then developed throughout the work.
passacaglia Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for passacaglia
- variation
- theme and variation
Phrases with passacaglia
a musical form similar to passacaglia but with a shorter repeating bass line
Example
The chaconne is often used in baroque dance suites.
a short melody or bassline that is repeated throughout a piece of music while other parts change
Example
The ground bass provides the foundation for the passacaglia.
passacaglia and fugue
a musical composition that combines a passacaglia with a fugue
Example
Bach's Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor is a famous example of this form.
Origins of passacaglia
from Spanish 'pasacalle', meaning 'street dance'
Summary: passacaglia in Brief
A 'passacaglia' [ˌpæsəˈkɑːliə] is a musical form that originated in the 17th century, consisting of a series of variations on a ground bass. It is a popular form in baroque music, and often used in combination with other forms like the chaconne. The passacaglia provides the foundation for the piece, with other parts changing around it.
