passacaglia
noun
pas·sa·ca·glia
ˌpä-sə-ˈkäl-yə 
ˌpa-sə-ˈkal-yə
ˌpa-sə-ˈkal-yə
1
a
: an old Italian or Spanish dance tune
b
: an instrumental musical composition consisting of variations usually on a ground bass in moderately slow triple time
2
: an old dance performed to a passacaglia
Examples of passacaglia in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In between the driving turbulence of its first movement and an unremittingly grim passacaglia as its final movement was an adaptation of a medieval form—the isorhythmic motet—in which searing gestures alternated with passages of ethereal tranquility.
—
Walter Simmons, Harper's Magazine, 25 May 2021
The grandeur of the passacaglia, the urgency of the toccata and the majesty of the chorale reminded listeners of this work’s value.
—Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, 10 Oct. 2019
The ciaccona — or passacaglia, a term often used interchangeably — typically features variations over a repeating bass, and Bollinger chose her examples well.
—Jeremy Eichler, BostonGlobe.com, 4 May 2018
The Impromptu is structured like a Baroque passacaglia, with an insistent chorale-like theme put through myriad tinkling, brash and eerie variations.
—Anthony Tommasini, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2018
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Walter Simmons, Harper's Magazine, 25 May 2021
The grandeur of the passacaglia, the urgency of the toccata and the majesty of the chorale reminded listeners of this work’s value.
—Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, 10 Oct. 2019
The ciaccona — or passacaglia, a term often used interchangeably — typically features variations over a repeating bass, and Bollinger chose her examples well.
—Jeremy Eichler, BostonGlobe.com, 4 May 2018
The Impromptu is structured like a Baroque passacaglia, with an insistent chorale-like theme put through myriad tinkling, brash and eerie variations.
—Anthony Tommasini, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2018
Dictionary Entries Near passacaglia
Cite this Entry
“Passacaglia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passacaglia. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
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