Learn & Watch: Chaconne with Rafael Aguirre, Carlo Marchione, Jorge Caballero & Andres Segovia!
Welcome to the tonebase Learn & Watch series where we feature fantastic performances by both tonebase Artists as well as incredible up-and-coming guitarists. In addition, we breakdown a bit of the pieces’s history and add some fun facts about the instrument! We hope you enjoy this selection and, as always, please send any feedback to team@tonebase.co!
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The pick of the week for us, was undoubtedly this gorgeous rendition of J.S. Bach’s Chaconne from Partita №2 in D Minor by tonebase Instructor Rafael Aguirre. Read on to find out more about the Chaconne as well as the underlying musical elements!
Performed at the “Two evenings in November” Moscow International Guitar Festival in 2016 in the Great Hall at Gnessins’ Academy of Music, the rendition features Aguirre’s unique interpretation of the masterwork.
Among other reasons, we especially love this interpretation because Aguirre brings his Spanish flair — especially noticeable in the fast-scale passages — to a piece that too often is played conservatively. This extra amount of passion produces a version of the Chaconne that truly stands apart.
A Brief History Of The Chaconne
“A slow dance introduced into Spain by the Moors”, the Chaconne, Chacona, or Ciaconne was originally a fiery and seductive dance that was frowned upon by the elitist class of 17th century Spain. While a subdued version eventually gained favor in the French courts, the original Chaconne was danced on the streets, accompanied by castanets played by a couple or a lone woman.
Usually written in triple meter and a major key, the Chaconne features a short, repeating harmonic progression that gives it a steady and focused rhythm. The form, which is similar to that of the Passacaglia, was often used in the Baroque period in both rondeau as well as variation form.
Rondeau Form
A form of French “lyric poetry and song of the 14th and 15th centuries”, Rondeau consists of four stanzas. The first and last are identical, while the second and third mirror each other’s halves. Together with the ballade and virelai, it was considered one of the three formes fixes — forms of verse in France set to music between the 13th and 15th centuries.
Variation Form
Variation is another form of musical organization, where passages are repeating in an alternating manner. The alternating material can be anything from melody to rhythm, and harmony to counterpoint.
Theme and variation is a specific kind of variation form. In this, the piece begins with a main melody — the theme. That is followed by one (or more) variation of the the melody.
Bach’s Chaconne
Forming the fifth and final movement of the Partita №2 in D Minor (BWV 1004) by J.S. Bach, the piece was originally written for a solo violin. It is widely considered one of the longest and most challenging solo pieces ever composed for the violin.
The Chaconne, which makes up almost half of the entire Partita, draws upon the previously mentioned chaconne dance style. Written in the variation form, the basic theme is 4 measures long. While both short and simple, this theme still manages to allow for 64 variations throughout the length of the composition.
Gradually increasing in complexity, Bach constructs a masterwork that requires the performers complete and utter focus. With sweeping changes of emotional intensity, frantic switching between long dominating notes and short urgent ones, the 256 measures culminate with a restating of the theme at the end with a new, bolder harmony.
Learn The Chaconne — Lessons + Podcast
Inspired by the performance and history and want to master the Chaconne yourself? Watch the preview of lessons below by tonebase Instructors Sanel Redzic and Carlo Marchione, and sign up for a free 14-day trial at tonebase.co to watch these and 200+ other lessons covering all things Classical Guitar!
Carlo Marchione Teaches Bach’s Chaconne
Carlo Marchione shares examples of proper accentuation in J.S. Bach’s monumental work, the Chaconne. The three aspects affecting accentuation in these instances include articulation, harmony, and hemiola. Follow along as Marchione demonstrates occurrences of all three.
tonebase Classical Guitar Podcast Episode 5 — Jorge Caballero
In this week’s episode, David is joined by Peruvian guitarist Jorge Caballero for a discussion on guitar repertoire and how he plays Andres Segovia’s version of the Chaconne not only note by note, but finger by finger, slur by slur.
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