Main content

The Passacaglia

The Passacaglia: Lucie Skeaping traces the history and development of the dance-based form passacaglia, from its origins in Iberian street music to the great organ works by Bach.

Lucie Skeaping traces the history and development of the dance-based form, from its origins in Iberian street music to the great organ works by Bach.

The word passacaglia derives from the Spanish 'pasar' and 'calle' - meaning 'to walk' and 'street'. The musical form probably originated as music performed whilst promenading, most likely with a guitar. With the rise in popularity of the 5 string Spanish guitar, the passacaglia quickly crossed Europe and was readily adopted into song, instrumental music and even into the theatre. Repertoire in the programme includes music from an opera by Lully, Monteverdi's lament par excellence "Lamento della Ninfa" and one of Bach's greatest works for organ.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 24 Jul 2011 00:00

Music Played

  • Girolamo Montesardo

    Passacaglia strumming exercise from his guitar manual of 1606

    Performer: Toby Carr (guitar)

    • ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ recording.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Passacaglia in C minor BWV 582 (short extract)

    Performer: Simon Preston (Sauer organ, St. Peter, Waltrop)

    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
    • 469 4202.
  • Juan Cabanilles

    Pasacalles del 4to tono

    Performer: Rinaldo Alessandrini (harpsichord)

    • NAIVE.
    • Op 30468.
  • Girolamo Montesardo

    Passacaglia strumming exercise from his guitar manual of 1606

    Performer: Toby Carr (guitar)

    • ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ recording.
  • Claudio Monteverdi

    'Ma Che Dico Poppea' from L'Incoronazione di Poppea

    Performers: City of London Baroque Sinfonia, Richard Hickox (conductor)

    • VIRGIN VERITAS.
    • VM 5617832.
  • Girolamo Frescobaldi

    Partite Centro sopra li Passachagli

    Performer: Alexander Weiman (Vladimir Slajch organ, Budweiss)

    • STRADIVARIUS.
    • STR 33491.
  • Jean‐Baptiste Lully

    Grande Passacaille from Act 5 Scene 1, Armide

    Performer: Les Arts Florissants, William Christie (conductor)

    • ERATO.
    • 0927 446552.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Suite No 7 in G minor (last movement)

    Performer: Sophie Yates (harpsichord)

    • CHANDOS.
    • CHAN 0688.
  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Lamento della Ninfa (central section)

    Performers: Tragicomedia, Stephen Stubbs (director)

    • TELDEC.
    • 4509 919712.
  • Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber

    Passacaglia from Rosary Sonatas

    Performer: Andrew Manze (violin)

    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • HMX 290734445.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Passacaglia in C minor, BWV.582

    Performer: Simon Preston (Sauer organ, St. Peter, Waltrop)

    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
    • 469 4202.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 10 Apr 2011 13:00
  • Sun 24 Jul 2011 00:00

Podcast