Whatever meaning you ascribe to the chaconne — personal, civic, divine, or none at all — it’s certain to leave its mark.

This 256-measure chaconne takes a plaintive four- bar phrase through a continuous kaleidoscope of musical expression in both major and minor modes. One of the best known and most masterful and expressive examples of the chaconne is the final movement from the Violin Partita in D minor by Johann Sebastian Bach.

Historians speculate that Bach composed it after returning from a trip and found his wife (and the mother of seven of his children) Maria Barbara had died. In what Shakespeare play does the song "Who Is Silvia" appear? Get kids back-to-school ready with Expedition: Learn! Johann Sebastian Bach’s chaconne has been arranged for nearly every instrument: from the ominous-sounding But it’s something spectacular when a great violinist performs the chaconne.Bach composed the chaconne sometime between 1718 and 1720.

To love life in its fullness is the key to wise living.

Fellow composer Listening to the chaconne is as rich and layered an experience as the story behind the music. Written for solo violin, the Chaconne is one of the longest and most challenging entirely solo pieces ever composed for that instrument. You can listen to the entire chaconne in the embedded audio and She collected stories of human resilience and kindness in the classrooms of George Washington University — earning a degree in International Affairs with concentrations in the Middle East and Conflict Resolution — and over many cups of coffee in community movements, from nuclear nonproliferation, to interfaith dialogue, to compassionate communication.Mariah worked as a program associate at the Sustained Dialogue Campus Network and lived in southern India for a spell as a documentary curator.

Along with its disproportional relationship to the rest of the suite, it merits the emphasis given it by musicians and composers alike.

By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica.Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox.

2 in D minor, BWV 1004, surpasses the duration of the previous four movements combined. Bach composed the chaconne sometime between 1718 and 1720. Histoire de la chaconne de Bach La chaconne est le dernier des cinq mouvements de la deuxième partita pour violon seul en Ré Mineur de Bach, classifiée BWV 1004. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription.

Betsy Schwarm is a music historian based in Colorado.

Fellow composer Johannes Brahms, in a letter to Clara Schumanndescribed the piece like this: When she’s not submerged in a good book, she might be found painting landscapes or playing chamber music.

Chaconne, Italian Ciaccona, solo instrumental piece that forms the fifth and final movement of the Partita No.

History at your fingertips

2 in D Minor, BWV 1004, by Johann Sebastian Bach. The ciaccona (commonly called by the French form of the word, chaconne), the concluding movement of Partita No.

Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox.

Historians speculate that Bach composed it after returning from a trip and found his wife (and the mother of seven of his children) Maria Barbara had died.

Parker Palmer with a poem on transforming suffering and restoring life. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.A century and a half after Bach composed the piece,