Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor BWV 582

An eight-measure ground bass anchors Johann Sebastian Bach's Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582, a work for organ. Introduced in the pedals, the theme underlies twenty continuous variations that change the texture and intensity around it. The recurring foundation gives the passacaglia continuity while allowing the music above it to develop in increasingly elaborate ways. The closing fugue draws its principal subject from part of the passacaglia theme, connecting the two sections through shared material.

Its interweaving lines shift attention from repeated variation to the interaction of independent voices. A standard work in the concert organ repertoire, it demands control of the pedals and clarity across a substantial musical structure. It suits listeners interested in how a compact idea can support an extended composition, and organists studying the relationship between variation form and counterpoint.