In music a passacaglia (French: passacaille, Spanish: pasacalle, German: passacalia; Italian: passacaglio, passagallo, passacagli, passacaglie) is a musical form and the corresponding court dance. Its name derives from the Spanish pasar (to walk) and calle (street), deriving either from street performance or musicians taking a few steps during one. Typically, the Spanish pasa-calle is a solemn, stately accompaniment to the parading of floats in religious processions.