In music, a chaconne (IPA: [ʃæˈkɔn]; Italian: ciaccona) is a musical form whose primary formal feature involves variation on a repeated short harmonic progression. Originally a quick dance-song emerging in Spanish culture, possibly from the New World, in the late 16th century, it was characterized by suggestive movements and mocking texts,^[1] the chaconne eventually became a slow triple meter dance which first emerged in the 16th century. The chaconne is understood today — in a rather arbitrary way — to be a set of variations on a harmonic progression, as opposed to a set of variations on a melodic bass pattern (to which is likewise artificially assigned the term passacaglia).^{[citation needed]} In actual usage in music history, the term "chaconne" has not been so clearly distinguished from passacaglia as regards the way the given piece of music is constructed. For other uses, see Music (disambiguation). ... The term musical form refers to two related concepts: the type of composition (for example, a musical work can have the form of a symphony, a concerto, or other generic type -- see Multi-movement forms below) the structure of a particular piece (for example, a piece can be written in... In music, variation is a formal technique where material is altered during repetition; reiteration with changes. ... Frontispiece of Peter Martyr dAnghieras De orbe novo (On the New World). Carte dAmérique, Guillaume Delisle, 1722. ... Triple metre is a musical metre characterised by a primary division of 3 beats to the bar, usually indicated by 3 (simple) or 9 (compound) in the upper figure of the time signature, with 3/4 and 9/8 being the most common examples. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... In music a passacaglia (French: passacaille, Spanish: pasacalle, German: passacalia; Italian: passacaglio, passagallo, passacagli, passacaglie) is a musical form and the corresponding court dance. ...

Frescobaldi, who was probably the first composer to treat the chaconne and passacaglia comparatively, usually (but not always) sets the former in major key, with two compound triple-beat groups per variation, giving his chaconne a more propulsive forward motion than his passacaglia, which usually has four simple triple-beat groups per variation.^[2] Both are usually in triple meter, begins on the second beat of the bar, and has a theme of four measures (or a close multiple thereof). (In more recent times the chaconne, like the passacaglia, need not be in 3/4 time.) Girolamo Frescobaldi. ... Triple metre is a musical metre characterised by a primary division of 3 beats to the bar, usually indicated by 3 (simple) or 9 (compound) in the upper figure of the time signature, with 3/4 and 9/8 being the most common examples. ... In musical terminology, a bar or measure is a segment of time defined as a given number of beats of a given duration. ...

If we accept the distinction of a chaconne as variations on a harmonic progression, often this harmonic progression may involve a recurrent bass line (ground bass), but this bass line—let alone the chords involved—may not always be present in exactly the same manner, although the general outlines remain understood. (Handel's "Chaconne" in G minor for keyboard^[3] has only the faintest relationship to the understood form.^{[citation needed]}) The ground bass, if there is one, may typically descend stepwise from the tonic to the dominant pitch of the scale, or the harmony may emphasize the circle of fifths or a derivative pattern thereof. In music, a ground bass is a bass part or bassline that repeats continually, as an ostinato, while the melody and possibly harmony over it change. ... Typical fingering for a second inversion C major chord on a guitar. ... “Handel” redirects here. ... The tonic is the first note of a musical scale, and in the tonal method of music composition it is extremely important. ... In music, the dominant is the fifth degree of the scale. ... In music, a scale is a set of musical notes that provides material for part or all of a musical work. ... In music theory, the circle of fifths (or cycle of fifths) is an imaginary geometrical space that depicts relationships among the 12 equal-tempered pitch classes comprising the familiar chromatic scale. ...

One of the best known and most masterful and expressive examples of the chaconne is the final movement from the Violin Partita in D minor by Johann Sebastian Bach. This 256-measure chaconne takes a plaintive four-bar phrase through a continuous kaleidoscope of musical expression, in both major and minor modes. Autograph of the Ciaccona The Partita in D minor for solo violin (BWV 1004) by Johann Sebastian Bach was written in the period 1717–1723 and is said to have been dedicated to the memory of Bachs first wife, Maria Barbara Bach. ... “Bach” redirects here. ... In musical terminology, a bar or measure is a segment of time defined as a given number of beats of a given duration. ... A toy kaleidoscope tube Pattern as seen through a kaleidoscope tube Pattern as seen through a kaleidoscope tube Pattern as seen through a kaleidoscope tube The kaleidoscope is a tube of mirrors containing, loose coloured beads or pebbles, or other small coloured objects. ... This article is about modes as used in music. ...

After the baroque period, the chaconne fell into decline, though the 32 Variations in C minor by Ludwig van Beethoven belong to the form. Baroque music describes an era and a set of styles of European classical music which were in widespread use between approximately 1600 and 1750. ... “Beethoven” redirects here. ...

Examples of chaconnes

• Jean-Philippe Rameau: L'hymen - Chaconne, Scene VI from Les fêtes d'Hébé (1739)
• François Couperin: La Favorite, Chaconne a deux tems, Troisième ordre.
• John Adams: second movement Chaconne: Body through which the dream flows from Violin Concerto (1993)
• Johann Sebastian Bach: Chaconne from Partita No. 2 for Solo Violin in D minor
• Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98, finale
• Dietrich Buxtehude: Organ chaconne in E minor, symphonic orchestration (1937) by Carlos Chavez.
• Philip Glass: Symphony No. 3, third, slow movement (1995)
• George Frideric Handel: Chaconne from Suite in G minor for clavier
• Gustav Holst: Chaconne from First Suite in E-flat major for Military Band (technically a passacaglia)^[4]
• Jean-Baptiste Lully : Chaconne from Phaëton (1683)
• Johann Pachelbel: Canon in D (see that article for more examples using the chord progression of Pachelbel's Canon)
• Henry Purcell: Chacony for strings and continuo in G minor Z.730 (1680)
• Tomaso Antonio Vitali: Chaconne in G minor for Solo Violin (a 19th century musical_hoax)
• K. Okada/ J. Karashima/ T. Ohsono: Chaconne in C minor from the soundtrack of Demon Castle Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight, Saturn version. (note: this piece bears striking resemblances to the Passacaglia of J. S. Bach's Passagaglia and Fugue in C minor for organ)
• John Corigliano: Chaconne for Violin and Orchestra

Jean-Philippe Rameau (September 25, 1683 - September 12, 1764) was one of the most important French composers and music theorists of the Baroque era. ... Les Fêtes dHébé (The Festivities of Hebe) is an opera-ballet in a prologue and three entrées, composed in 1739 by Jean-Philippe Rameau. ... François Couperin. ... For the Alaska-based postminimalist composer, see John Luther Adams. ... Written in 1993 by the American composer John Adams, the Violin Concerto is more sophisticated than conventional minimalist works. ... “Bach” redirects here. ... The Partita in D minor for solo violin (BWV 1004) by Johann Sebastian Bach was written during the period 1717–1723 and some scholars suggest it was written in memory of Bachs first wife, Maria Barbara Bach. ... Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms (May 7, 1833 – April 3, 1897) was a German composer of the Romantic period. ... Diderik Hansen Buxtehude (ca. ... Carlos Chavez photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1937 Carlos Antonio de Padua Ch vez y Ram rez (June 13, 1899 - August 2, 1978) was a Mexican composer, conductor, teacher, journalist, and the founder and director of the Mexico Symphony Orchestra. ... Philip Glass (born January 31, 1937) is a three-times Academy Award-nominated American composer. ... “Handel” redirects here. ... In music, a suite is an organized set of instrumental or orchestral pieces normally performed at a single sitting, as a separate musical performance, not accompanying an opera, ballet, or theater-piece. ... Also see: G major, or G-sharp minor. ... Clavier is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. ... Gustav Holst Gustav Holst (September 21, 1874, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire - May 25, 1934, London) [1] [2] was an English composer and was a music teacher for over 20 years. ... The First Suite in Eâ™­ for Military Band (Op. ... Jean-Baptiste de Lully, originally Giovanni Battista di Lulli (November 28, 1632 – March 22, 1687), was an Italian-born French composer, who spent most of his life working in the court of Louis XIV of France. ... Johann Pachelbel (IPA: [], [] or [][2]) (baptized September 1, 1653 – March 3, 1706) was a German Baroque composer, organist and teacher who brought the south German organ tradition to its peak. ... Pachelbels Canon also known as Canon in D major, or more formally, Canon and Gigue in D major for three Violins and Basso Continuo (Kanon und Gigue in D-Dur für drei Violinen und Basso Continuo) is the most famous piece of music by Johann Pachelbel. ... Henry Purcell Henry Purcell (IPA: ;[1] September 10 (?),[2], 1659–November 21, 1695), a British Baroque composer. ... Tomaso Antonio Vitali (1663-1745): Italian composer and violinist. ... Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (SOTN) is a Japanese action-adventure game developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo and published by Konami for the Sony PlayStation video game console. ... The Sega Saturn ) is a 32-bit video game console, first released on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America and July 8, 1995 in Europe. ... The Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor (BWV 582) is the name of a piece of music by Johann Sebastian Bach for the organ. ... Organ in Katharinenkirche, Frankfurt am Main, Germany The organ is a keyboard instrument played using one or more manuals and a pedalboard. ... John Corigliano (b. ...

References

1. ^ Alexander Silbiger, "Chaconne", The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, ed. S. Sadie and J. Tyrrell (London: Macmillan, 2001).
2. ^ Alexander Silbiger, "Chaconne" The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, ed. S. Sadie and J. Tyrrell (London: Macmillan, 2001).
3. ^ Händel, Georg Friedrich. "Chaconne," Klavierwerke / Keyboard Works IV. Einzelne Suiten und Stücke / Miscellaneious Suites and Pieces. Zweite Folge / Second Part. Herausgebegen von / Edited by Terence Best. Kassel: Bärenreiter, c1975, pp. 47-49.
4. ^ Udell, Budd (1982). "Standard Works for Band: Gustav Holst's First Suite in E♭ Major for Military Band." Music Educators Journal, 69 (4):28 (JSTOR subscription access)

External links

• A PDF of the score for Bach's Chaconne
• Passacaglias and Chaconnes for Lute