Favourite orchestral passacaglias/chaconnes

Started by Maestro267, February 12, 2020, 01:38:03 AM

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Maestro267

I've been absolutely fascinated by the Passacaglia recently. I'd like your favourite examples please. Anything goes here, whether it's a standalone work or an individual movement or section within a larger work such as a symphony, concerto or opera. Orchestrations and arrangements can also count.

Some of my favourites:

Schnittke: Cello Concerto No. 2, V
Chávez: Symphony No. 6, III
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8, IV; Symphony No. 15, IV; Violin Concerto No. 2, III
Britten: Peter Grimes, Act II; Violin Concerto, III

Biffo

Only obvious ones spring to mind -

Purcell: Chacony in G minor - this has been frequently recorded either on period instruments or arranged for string orchestra (eg Britten/ECO)
Brahms: Finale of Fourth Symphony
Britten: Passacaglia from Peter Grimes
Webern: Passaacaglia for Orchestra, Op 1

I am sure you will get plenty more.

Several years ago there was a discussion in the Amazon UK forum on the subject of whether there was a difference between a passacaglia and a chaconne. Those who insisted there was seemed to me to have pretty flimsy arguments. It arose from a mention of the Chaconne in Bach's Partita No 2 in D minor, BWV1004

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Jo498

Brahms, Finale of the 4th symphony
Webern, op.1
Bach/Stokowski BWV 582 (There are a few orchestral movements by Bach that are Chaconne-like, e.g. the slow movements of the d minor clavier concerto and the E major violin concerto,  but I don't think they qualifiy as real chaconne/passacaglia)
Shostakovich Violin concerto #1
Rameau, Chaconne from Les Indes galantes

There is another 20th century chaconne piece at the back of my mind but I am not sure which one. I don't think I know Peter Grimes.
Tout le malheur des hommes vient d'une seule chose, qui est de ne savoir pas demeurer en repos, dans une chambre.
- Blaise Pascal

ritter

#4
This little gem by William Walton (Passacaglia: the Death of Falstaff, from Henry V):

https://www.youtube.com/v/dimZ-IgAtEI

The second movement, passacaglia, of Alferdo Casella's Concerto for Orchestra, op. 61 (this one is superb IMHO):

https://www.youtube.com/v/jMlZGCJU_1Y

The ciaconna (second movement) of Goffredo Petrassi's Partita per orchestra (it starts at 6'10" of the video):

https://www.youtube.com/v/BC1CClO5qAM

And another Partita, this one by Luigi Dallapiccola, with a passacaglia as its first movement:

https://www.youtube.com/v/Ttk7bVdq96E

Symphonic Addict

Atterberg - Passacaglia from Ballad and Passacaglia on a Swedish Folk Theme, Op. 38
Bach/Respighi - Passacaglia in C minor, BWV 582
Ben-Haim - Chaconne from his Concerto Grosso
Casella - Passacaglia from Partita for piano and small orchestra and the one ritter posted
Corigliano - Chaconne from his Symphony No. 1
Flagello - Ciaccona from his Symphony No. 1
Hindemith - Passacaglia from Nobilissima Visione
Irgens-Jensen - Passacaglia
Kabelac - Mystery of Time
Lopes-Graça - Passacaglia from his Symphony for orchestra
Lutoslawski - Passacaglia from his Concerto for orchestra
Maconchy - Passacaglia from her Symphony for double string orchestra
Respighi - Passacaglia from Suite No. 3 on Ancient Airs and Dances
Shostakovich - Passacaglia from his Violin Concerto No. 1
Vaughan Williams - Passacaglia from his Symphony No. 5
Walton - Passacaglia from his Symphony No. 2
Webern - Passacaglia, Op. 1
Weinberger - Passacaglia for organ and orchestra (a majestic work!)
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Quote from: ritter on February 12, 2020, 08:20:31 AM
This little gem by William Walton (Passacaglia: the Death of Falstaff, from Henry V):

https://www.youtube.com/v/dimZ-IgAtEI

The second movement, passacaglia, of Alferdo Casella's Concerto for Orchestra, op. 61 (this one is superb IMHO):

https://www.youtube.com/v/jMlZGCJU_1Y

The ciaconna (second movement) of Goffredo Petrassi's Partita per orchestra (it starts at 6'10" of the video):

https://www.youtube.com/v/BC1CClO5qAM

And another Partita, this one by Luigi Dallapiccola, with a passacaglia as its first movement:

https://www.youtube.com/v/Ttk7bVdq96E

Great choices, Rafael.

Maestro267

Great choices, and plenty of recommendations for me to discover as well. I'm sure I heard the Dallapiccola Partita at a Proms concert a while back.

j winter

Cool thread idea, I'm definitely going to check a lot of these out.  Bach's Passacaglia, both the original for organ and Stokowski's orchestration, has long been one of my very favorite pieces of music.....
The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.
The motions of his spirit are dull as night,
And his affections dark as Erebus.
Let no such man be trusted.

-- William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice

Christo

The Ciaconna Gotica (1920), only claim to fame by composer-conductor Cornelis Dopper (Stadskanaal 1870 – Amsterdam 1939), here with the Concertgebouw under - because dedicated to - Mengelberg & a modern - but less electrifying - recording under Bakels (yes, yes, we know, it's not a genuine chaconne, but it sounds like & it sounds nice  ;)):

https://www.youtube.com/v/5WOqra8tquk https://www.youtube.com/v/wRy0UU-qVoM
... music is not only an 'entertainment', nor a mere luxury, but a necessity of the spiritual if not of the physical life, an opening of those magic casements through which we can catch a glimpse of that country where ultimate reality will be found.    RVW, 1948

Archaic Torso of Apollo

A lot of good choices here, though I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned the finale of Rubbra's Symphony No. 7.
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Christo

Quote from: Archaic Torso of Apollo on February 16, 2020, 09:45:45 AM
A lot of good choices here, though I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned the finale of Rubbra's Symphony No. 7.

Errr, you did. Allow me to nominate it too: why not mention the third & final movement of Edmund Rubbra's Seventh (from 1957)? A Passacaglia & Fugue: Lento?   8)
... music is not only an 'entertainment', nor a mere luxury, but a necessity of the spiritual if not of the physical life, an opening of those magic casements through which we can catch a glimpse of that country where ultimate reality will be found.    RVW, 1948

André

SA mentioned the Passacaglia by Ludvig Irgens Jensen. It's a superb work, easily available (3 versions that I know of). Recommended.