passacaglia

American  

[pah-suh-kahl-yuh, pas-uh-kal-] / ˌpɑ səˈkɑl yə, ˌpæs əˈkæl- /

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.

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passacaglia British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of passacaglia

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)

Example Sentences

The fourth becomes a sophisticated lesson in arpeggios and the last, a fanciful passacaglia.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

Through speakers hidden in the foliage, the Disney garden is now a sound installation by Susan Philipsz, in which fragments of an Eisler solo violin passacaglia become transfixing 12-tone bird song.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2020

More numerous than the budding sonata forms you might look for in nascent symphonic works were backward-looking pieces built on ground basses: chaconnes and a passacaglia.

From New York Times • Jun. 18, 2013

The final Ground was built on a repeating bass figure or passacaglia, a timely reminder of Purcell who used the same device in Dido's Lament.

From The Guardian • Jun. 1, 2013

The music of the passacaglia floated up and Katherine drank in its minor sweetness.

From Mistress Penwick by Payne, Dutton