pas·sa·ca·glia (pä s -käl y, p s-kly)n. 1. A musical form of the 17th and 18th centuries consisting of continuous variations on a ground bass and similar to the chaconne. 2. A dance of the period that was performed to such music. [Italian, From Spanish pasacalle : pasar, to pass, step; see pase + calle, street (from Latin callis, call-, path).] |
passacaglia [ˌpæsəˈkɑːljə]
n
1. (Performing Arts / Dancing) an old Spanish dance in slow triple time
2. (Music, other) a slow instrumental piece characterized by a series of variations on a particular theme played over a repeated bass part See also chaconne [1]
[earlier passacalle, from Spanish pasacalle street dance, from paso step + calle street; the ending -alle was changed to -aglia to suggest an Italian origin]
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