Why Do Composers Love the Chaconne?

For hundreds of years, composers have been writing music based the chaconne, a Spanish-American dance and music form best identified for its repeating and downward-plunging bass line. If Bach, Monteverdi, Beethoven, Duke Ellington, Bob Dylan and Led Zeppelin have all written works based on the chaconne, we decided that it was time that someone asked, what makes the chaconne so special? Guest host Julie Burstein is joined by The New Yorker music critic Alex Ross to talk about the history of the chaconne and why its impact has continued through the centuries. Plus, we dip into the Fishko Files for a report that WNYC’s Sara Fishko did about this intriguing music form.
Additional Resources:

Read Alex Ross’s article on the chaconne