Passamezzo antico

thumb|right|330px|Passamezzo antico

thumb|right|330px|Passamezzo and Romanesca [[melodic formula .]]

The passamezzo antico is a ground bass or chord progression that was popular during the Italian Renaissance and known throughout Europe in the 16th century. The progression is a variant of the double tonic: its major mode variant is known as the passamezzo moderno.

The sequence consists of two phrases as follows: (For an explanation of this notation see Chord progression)

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; width:200px;"

|width=25%| i

|width=25%| bVII

|width=25%| i

|width=25%| V

|-

| III || bVII || i V || i

|}

Though usually in the key of G minor,