Passamezzo

Passamezzo

The passamezzo is another popular renaisasnce ground bass. Everyone probably knows the lute passamezzo by Adrian LeRoy. This is my own set of variations, set for eight recorders SAATTBBG. Note the great bass on the lowest voice: this is one of the pieces I wrote after I acquired such an instrument, and before I acquired a contra bass.

This is also representative of my tendency to put the emphasis on the lower voices (there is even a great bass solo of sorts), and using the soprano as a “cherry on top”. On the other hand, the soprano does get to play 32nd notes, and a modest bit of polyrhythm.

Freely available on IMSLP.