Experience Pachelbel's Canon
It's soothing, especially when I listen to versions that include nature sounds.
It's captivating.
And it's moving.
Writing this page has let me experience the canon even more intimately. Not only could I listen to it over and over again, but I learned a lot about it musically. I now have an even deeper appreciation for it and I hope that your experience here is meaningful as well.
There are many people who feel the same way as I do about this piece of music. And there are many who think it's totally overused. If you fall into this category, read on anyway. You'll have a chance to voice your opinion . . . and you'll probably enjoy the comedy video later in the page!
Contents at a Glance
Who Composed Pachelbel's Canon?
Johann Pachelbel
Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706) was a German baroque composer. He excelled in music right from childhood and studied under several prominent instructors and composers. He worked as an organist and music tutor (he tutored some of the members of the Bach family) and also composed music in many different genres and styles. He wrote sacred and secular works and compositions for voice and organ, including fugues, chorales, preludes and arias, among others. Learn more about Johann Pachelbel through this interesting biography.
In approximately 1680, Pachelbel composed what is now known as Pachelbel's Canon. It's also called Canon in D or Canon in D Major. Actually, its full title, translated from the original language, is Canon and Gigue in D Major for Three Violins and a Bass Continuo. Quite the mouthful!
What's Baroque?
Baroque music is a type of classical music written in the baroque period from 1600-1750.
Listen to Pachelbel's Canon by Eric & Judd (Guitar Duet)
What's a Canon?
Pachelbel's Canon
The Musical Details
As I mentioned above, the full title is Canon and Gigue in D Major for Three Violins and a Bass Continuo. It indicates that this piece of chamber music was written for 3 violins and a bass continuo as you can see in the image. This might seem painfully obvious . . . but it's actually very significant as you'll soon see.
What's Chamber Music?
Chamber music is a form of classical music that was written for a small group of instruments, one performer per part. You can see this in the Voices of Music video below. Traditionally, it was performed in a palace chamber.
What's a Bass Continuo?
A bass continuo is a continuous accompaniment by a bass instrument that provides the harmony of a piece of music. It's a technique used in the baroque period.
Well, the three violins are three "upper voices" that play over a continuous bass line, or ground bass and that's really what a canon is - - the upper voices (usually 2 or 3) accompanied by a repeating bass, or ground. The title itself describes what a canon is. Kinda cool!
In this piece, each of the three violin voices plays the same melody, with variations, one at a time with an time interval between them. The bass line is independent and provides the harmony. The bass line repeats the same 8 notes/chords throughout the canon.
See a really cool illustration of how a canon works here.
More About a Canon
A canon is a contrapuntal composition. Another word for contrapuntal is counterpoint. Counterpoint is the interaction of two or more melodies or voices that are both independent (function separately) and interdependent (sound harmonious when played together). This takes us back to the explanation above of what a canon is - - two or three upper voices accompanied by a ground bass.
As the full title also indicates, the canon also had a gigue associated with it. A gigue is an upbeat, baroque dance. The canon was written to be fast-paced. Nowadays, with many different arrangements, you'll often hear it played slowly. I prefer it fast!
Pachelbel's Canon Today
The canon wasn't very popular back when it was composed. It was first published in 1919, first recorded in 1940, and only became popular in about 1970. Now, there are many arrangements and the chord progression is used in many other songs (check out the rant video for a comedic view of this). It's also popular in weddings and movies (e.g. Ordinary People, Father of the Bride).
Pachelbel's Canon by Voices of Music (Original Instruments)
From a humorous perspective, notice that the poor cello player isn't shown much and keep this in mind when you watch the comedy rant video below!
Pachelbel's Rant
Pachelbel's Canon by George Winston (Piano)
(the video says it's by Yanni)
Play an instrument?
Get the free sheet music for Pachelbel's Canon!
Which Version of Pachelbel's Canon Do You Like Best?
What's Your Opinion of Pachelbel's Canon?
Do you think it's been ruined by all the arrangements and overuse? Do you love it? If you love it, which arrangment(s) touch you the most deeply?
Note:This is not the Guestbook. The Guestbook is at the bottom of the page.
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katemiya
Sep 28, 2011 @ 3:52 am | delete
- Pachelbel's Canon is rather important to popular music. So many different songs well into the rock and roll era used it as inspiration or the basis for a melody.
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ZCademy
Sep 9, 2011 @ 3:47 pm | delete
- I enjoy hearing the canon, but not endlessly, and definitely not when it's over orchestrated and over-arranged.
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Northbright
Jun 12, 2011 @ 12:12 am | delete
- Pachelbel's Canon is a favorite one that I constantly listen to in whatever instrument or arrangement. Listening to the Canon is always an experience of peace and delight. I'm glad to have discovered your lens. I learned much information that helps me appreciate even more this Baroque composition. Thank you so much.
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Nenkai
Feb 14, 2011 @ 8:40 pm | delete
- Pachelbell rhymes with TacoBell... his first name is probably Johann... VERY FUNNY stuff!
And a superb lens. I think I know a lot about this period, and this piece in particular, yet you shared a lot of fun stuff. Thank you. Blessing...from the new Neighborhood Angel for Classical Music!
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Arquinn
Jan 13, 2011 @ 2:48 am | delete
- Pachelbel Canon in D was my favorite music of all.
I first heard it from the Korean film My Sassy Girl (although in this movie, it's in C)
Since then, this piece has been my ringtone
**It's my ultimate dream to be able to play this one on a piano :D
Nice post!
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greenspirit
Oct 1, 2010 @ 8:28 am | delete
- I love this piece too. The most moving performance I have heard was by The Academy of St. Martins, at St. Martin in The Fields,bycandelight . The light, the architecture, the music all together was wonderful. You make a fantastic lens by the way. I have just enjoyed your Beethoven lens as well.
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WordCustard
Apr 14, 2010 @ 6:38 am | delete
- I adored this lens when I visited before and am thrilled to be able to return and leave an *~*~ Angel Blessing ~*~* here. Also featured on Blessed by Wordcustard, an Angel on Squidoo.
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WordCustard
Apr 14, 2010 @ 6:38 am | delete
- I adored this lens when I visited before and am thrilled to be able to return and leave an *~*~ Angel Blessing ~*~* here. Also featured on Blessed by Wordcustard, an Angel on Squidoo.
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prosperity66
Feb 5, 2010 @ 12:02 pm | delete
- Was browsing lenses while listening to my favorite Blues tunes - sound level max, of course - and I don't know why, but your intro pushed me to stop the music and turn the video modules on... and listen to the music you love! Indeed, it's splendid! I'm a history lover and this brings me to Louis XIV's century. Thanks for the trip!
Blessed by a SquidAngel.
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LeanneChesser
Feb 5, 2010 @ 12:11 pm | delete
- Dom, thank you!
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Pachelbel's Canon for Your iPod
| Track | Artist | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pachelbel's Canon | Relaxing Piano Music | Relaxing Piano Music | |
| Pachelbel's Canon | Steven Halpern | More of the Most Relaxing New Age Music In the Universe | |
| Pachelbel's Canon | Angels of Venice | Music For Harp, Flute And Cello | |
| Pachelbel's Canon | Eric & Judd | guitar duets | |
| Pachelbel's Canon in D | Barrymoore Chamber Orchestra | Bride's Guide to Classical Wedding Music | |
| Pachelbel's Canon in D (Featured in "Ordinary People") | Charles Gerhardt & National Philharmonic Orchestra | Reader's Digest Music: Homework Hits, Vol. 1 - The Classical Study Hall | |
| Canon in D Major | English Chamber Orchestra & Raymond Leppard | Great Performances: Baroque Favorites - Pachelbel's Canon | |
| Pachelbel's Canon In D (Solo Piano) | Brian Crain | Piano Opus - Solo Piano | |
| Pachelbel's Canon | Bakra Bata | Steel Drums, Percussion and Flute |
Purchase Pachelbel's Canon
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What Do You Think of Pachelbel's Canon?
What's Your Favorite Piece of Music?
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COUNTRYLUTHIER
Sep 19, 2011 @ 9:25 am | delete
- Pachbel's Canon is a great piece of music. I hope to play it in the next decade.
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ZCademy
Sep 9, 2011 @ 3:48 pm | delete
- Thanks ... I enjoyed learning about the structure of a canon.
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Padaneis
Mar 10, 2011 @ 1:31 pm | delete
- Very interesting lens. Maybe you could find interesting to listen to Pachelbel's canons in different tunings: http://www.io.com/~hmiller/music/warped-canon.html
While it is profound music, its harmonic structure is simple, thus it lends iteself to experiment with meantone, just intonation and so on. Bests!
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GardenArbor
Feb 27, 2011 @ 6:07 am | delete
- Interesting lens on a favorite piece!
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Janiece
Feb 20, 2011 @ 8:03 pm | delete
- Pachelbel's Canon was played at my wedding! I always love hearing it!
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Arquinn
Jan 13, 2011 @ 2:58 am | delete
- PS: Listen to the Yngwie Malmsteen version of Canon Rock, this one is nice! I love this canon rock version :)
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Arquinn
Jan 13, 2011 @ 2:51 am | delete
- Pachelbel Canon is my favorite music of all time.
I first heard of it from the Korean movie My Sassy Girl
I have downloaded a collection of different versions of this music including acapella and rock versions
It is my ultimate dream to play this one using a piano, haha!
Nice Post! :D
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dogface
Dec 30, 2010 @ 3:24 pm | delete
- Canon is great!
Many years ago when I was searching for piano arrangements of Pachelbel's Canon I found an arrangement made by David Lanz. Instantly I fell in love with it. If you like piano music and/or New Age music (or even if you don't like) you really should listen to it. If you have Spotify put this into the search field: spotify:track:483L8rBJTfgIroyNrabn0o
I can't listen to the version of Canon by Yanni since the video is blocked in my country, but I'm almost 100% sure it's not by Yanni, because 1. Yanni hasn't made an arrangement of Canon and 2. I listened to it elsewhere and it's an arrangement made by George Winston, not by Yanni.
PS. Great lens. :-)
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LeanneChesser
Dec 30, 2010 @ 5:01 pm | delete
- Thanks for the info on Yanni - - I'll have to check it out. That's what the video said but I'll look into it :).
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dogface
Jan 1, 2011 @ 7:18 am | delete
- You're welcome. :-) If the music in the video is the same or similar as in this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hydo5gJP22o then it's not by Yanni but by George Winston.
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Photo Credits
Intro: dog8mypeeps on Photobucket
Johann Pachelbel: MichellePaula on Photobucket
The Musical Details: reyta on Photobucket
Bass Line Divider: Public Domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Background Image: GRSites
Disclosure: I earn money from the sale of items on this page.
by LeanneChesser
Hi! I'm Leanne Chesser. I studied piano as a child and teen, going up to grade 8 (Royal Conservatory) and I took a few guitar lessons. So, I'm not a m... more »
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