ADVANCED HIGHER Q & A 1: How can I recognise a passacaglia?

How can I recognise a passacaglia?

Long answer:

A passacaglia originated during the Baroque era. It is a type of composition which is built on a repeating bass pattern known as a ground bass. Look at this ...

This is a composition for organ, although a passacaglia can be written for any instrument or group of instruments. Look at the lowest stave, which would be played by the organ pedals. This bass part (orange box) lasts 8 bars plus an anacrusis. Notice that after the first 8 bars, the notes on the 'pedal' stave are repeated exactly (green box) and then, 8 bars later, the same notes are repeated over once again (blue box). This arrangement - called a ground bass - will continue throughout a passacaglia. The other parts above it - in this case the keyboard - will play variations on a theme. 

Listen to how the music sounds. Follow the music above, then keep listening for the ground bass continuing throughout the piece as the keyboard part becomes more elaborate above it. 

Short answer:

Probably Baroque, usually slow and in triple time
Listen for ground bass
Listen for variations above the ground bass