Passacaille

In its very first measures, this piece for viola seems to be preparing to faithfully respect the rules of the passacaglia, this ancient musical form,
whose name, of Spanish origin (pasar, (to walk) and calle, (street), therefore “walking in the street”) refers to the music of processions which constantly repeated, while varying it, the same motif.
Here, the continually repeated motif consists of the 12 notes of the chromatic scale. As in the passacaglia of the Baroque period, it is stated in a ternary rhythm. But this beautiful regularity quickly goes haywire. Soon, breaks in the rhythm and changes of tempo arise. The initial motif is deformed and gradually transformed, without ceasing to be recognizable. The moods vary constantly, as do the playing styles (pizzicati, harmonics, etc.). The entire piece thus plays on the contrasts between rigor and freedom, unity and variety, austerity and fantasy.