chaconne: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareFormal / Technical (Music)
Quick answer
What does “chaconne” mean?
A musical composition built on a repeated short harmonic progression, often in triple meter and with a moderately slow, stately tempo.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A musical composition built on a repeated short harmonic progression, often in triple meter and with a moderately slow, stately tempo.
A musical form originating as a dance in the Baroque period, characterized by a repeating bassline (ground bass) over which variations are composed. It can also refer to the dance itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Highly technical and academic in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialised in both British and American English.
Grammar
How to Use “chaconne” in a Sentence
[Verb] a chaconne (perform/compose)a chaconne [Preposition] (for/in)the chaconne from [Musical Work]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chaconne” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The ensemble will chaconne the piece with great solemnity.
American English
- The composer chaconned the finale, creating a powerful cyclical structure.
adjective
British English
- The chaconne-like bassline gave the modern piece a Baroque feel.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in musicology, history of music, and analysis of Baroque forms.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary context; used by musicians, composers, and music theorists.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chaconne”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chaconne”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chaconne”
- Pronouncing it with a hard 'ch' as in 'chair'. It is a French loanword with a 'sh' sound.
- Confusing it with a 'passacaglia', which is similar but often has a more serious character and a different origin.
- Using it as a general term for any slow piece of music.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While both are Baroque variation forms over a repeated pattern, a chaconne is traditionally based on a repeated harmonic progression, while a passacaglia is based on a repeating bass melody (ground bass). The distinction is often blurred in practice.
No, it is a rare, specialised term used almost exclusively within the field of classical music, particularly when discussing Baroque music or specific compositions.
Yes, historically it referred to a slow, stately dance of Spanish or possibly Latin American origin. In modern usage, it almost always refers to the musical composition inspired by that dance.
Key composers include Johann Sebastian Bach (e.g., the 'Chaconne' from the Partita for Violin No. 2), Henry Purcell, Jean-Baptiste Lully, and later composers like Johannes Brahms and Benjamin Britten who used the form.
A musical composition built on a repeated short harmonic progression, often in triple meter and with a moderately slow, stately tempo.
Chaconne is usually formal / technical (music) in register.
Chaconne: in British English it is pronounced /ʃəˈkɒn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ʃɑˈkɑːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CHACONNE sounds like 'shah-CON' - imagine a SHAH presiding over a courtly CONtest of musicians playing a stately, repeating tune.
Conceptual Metaphor
A JOURNEY over familiar ground (the variations travel over the same harmonic path).
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining characteristic of a chaconne?