Mus. Also 7–8 chacon, 8 chacoon, 9 chacona. [Fr. chaconne, ad. Sp. chacona, according to Spanish etymologists, ad. Basque chucun pretty.]
An obsolete dance, or the music to which it was danced, moderately slow, and usually in 3–4 time. ‘The chaconne served as finale to a ballet or an opera: it is no longer in use’ (Littré).
1685. Dryden, Albion & A., II. Chacon, Two Nymphs and Triton sing.
1692. Southerne, Wives Excuse, I. i. The Sonatas and the Chacons which I know.
1721–1800. Bailey, Chaconne, chacoon, a sort of Saraband Dance, the Measure of which is always Triple Time.
1774. Westm. Mag., II. 316. A chaconne, executed by eight principal dancers with great ease and agility.
1878. Saturday Pop. Concert Programme Bk., 23 Feb., 1003. A pianoforte accompaniment was added to the Chaconne by Mendelssohn.
