Chaconne for String Quartet Live

A Chaconne is related to the Passacaglia. The Chaconne and Passacaglia were thought to have originated from Native American rhythms and dance roots that were transported back to Spain and spread to Italy, France and other European countries where they assumed stately courtly dances or processionals. Both are written in ¾ (triple) meter. Both forms consist of a series of variations played over their respective ground bases While the Passacaglia commonly employs an 8 measure repetitious ground base on individual notes with emphasis on the first beat of the measure, a Chaconne is based on a repetitious chord progression serving as a “ground base” with emphasis on the second beat of the triple meter. The present Chaconne consists of a chordal progression theme with 27 variations.

The Chaconne for String Quartet was modified from the Chaconne for piano Op. 23 to take advantage of the capabilities of the stringed instruments and as a learning exercise for the composer in developing familiarity with compositional techniques for stringed instruments.

The Chaconne for String Quartet was composed from 02 February 2016 through 29 March 2016. It received its first public performance at an in House Concert in Penn Valley in June 2016.