Jonathan Ellis wrote in reply to Wes Crone:

>>As far as I have learned through my own studies:
>>Chaconne: Common harmonic sequence throughout.
>>Passacaglia: common melody throughout; usually in the bass but not always.
>>Ground: Unwavering bass line, never changes; music changes above it.
>
>This would make Bach's organ Passacaglia a Ground.  Are you suggesting that
>Bach got it wrong? ;-)

Wes can speak for himself, but this kind of exchange only tells me
(again) that these forms (perhaps coming under the catch-all phrase
"ostinato pieces"?) were never as strictly observed by real composers
as the music theory books would have us believe.

Bill H.