Passamezzo
Italian dance and bass pattern of the 16th century.
What it means
The passamezzo is an Italian dance of the 16th and 17th centuries and at the same time a bass pattern that was suited as the basis for variations. The name is usually derived from passo e mezzo ("step and a half step"). One distinguishes the passamezzo antico, whose bass is in the minor, and the passamezzo moderno with a bass in the major.
Musical use
As a dance the passamezzo was a moderately lively processional dance in duple time, often followed by a saltarello as a lively after-dance. As a bass pattern it served lutenists, keyboard players and ensembles as the basis for melodic variations and improvisation. The schemata are among the most influential bass patterns of the Renaissance and affected later forms such as passacaglia and chaconne.
The passamezzo should be distinguished from the pavane, the slower, ceremonial processional dance, and from the passacaglia, which is carried out later and with a different bass pattern over a bass in variations.
Performance practice
When you play a passamezzo, keep the calm, even step of the dance and articulate the variations clearly. Listen to the bass pattern that carries each variation and ornament the melody only when you play the framework securely.