passacaglia

[ pah-suh-kahl-yuh, pas-uh-kal- ]

noun

1. a slow, dignified dance of Spanish origin.
2. the music for this dance, based on an ostinato figure.
3. a musical form based on continuous variations over a ground bass.

passacaglia

/ ˌpæsəˈkɑːljə /

noun

1. an old Spanish dance in slow triple time
2. a slow instrumental piece characterized by a series of variations on a particular theme played over a repeated bass part See also chaconne

Word History and Origins

Origin of passacaglia¹

1650–60; pseudo-Italian spelling of earlier passacalle < Spanish pasacalle literally, step (i.e., dance) in the street ( pasa 3rd-person singular present of pasar to step, pace ¹ + calle street < Latin callem, accusative of callis path)

Word History and Origins

Origin of passacaglia¹

C17: earlier passacalle, from Spanish pasacalle street dance, from paso step + calle street; the ending -alle was changed to -aglia to suggest an Italian origin

Example Sentences

Besides these there are the three great independent toccatas and the Passacaglia.

From Project Gutenberg

Dance-measures, the passacaglia, even the jig, are not excluded; and a chorale has its counterpoint in a siciliano.

From Project Gutenberg

These sonatas and the passacaglia were written for his young son, W. Friedemann, to practise on the pedal clavichord.

From Project Gutenberg