Canon in D and its influence
Last night, during choir practice, I had a little chit-chat with the choir master and the topic on favorite classical music came up. I can’t help but think back on all the musical pieces that I have been trying to learn for the longest time but could never spare any to really study them. When I got home, I saw my guitar and my neglected music sheets lying at the corner of my room.
As I have been haplessly babbling about whatever comes to mind here, I remember one of my favorite pieces, Canon in D.
But, what is a “Canon”? NO, not a CaNNon… A CaNon (or Kanon). It is characterized by a clear melody being repeated and imitated exactly in other parts. It is contrapuntal piece of music, meaning that it has two or more independent but harmonically related melodic parts sounding together… Now stop raising those eyebrows… Canon in D, in particular has a characteristic of a round song where your melody can act as a harmony when sung or played alongside other bars.
Canon in D is the only Canon written by Johann Pachelbel. Yes, he’s a dead guy, but his music lives on and has influenced modern day music.
You would hear this as an intro to the song I C U when U get there by Coolio. Believe it or not, the same progression is also being used in the songs Sk8r Boi (Avril Lavigne), Basket Case (Green Day) and Push (Matchbox 20).
As for anime that has included the song, there’s La Corda D’Oro, Ichigo 100%, Kanon, Nodame Cantabile, Kino’s Journey to name a few…
It is also in the Korean movie, My Sassy Girl.
Here are several versions for you to hear. 
Arrangement similar to what I’m trying to learn
another arrangement with a touch of rock guitar ballad
Music influences me a lot in my choices of things tho watch. It is always a big part of what I could remember about the movie or the series. Canon in D, so far, is one my favorite piece. What’s yours?
You will love the youtube video, trust me
I love this song!! But Explosive by Bond is the best
I was saying on Ritchan’s blog how pieces are so overplayed that they lose their meaning and become cliched to hell. This is probably the epitome of that notion, both because it’s played a lot, and because of its ubiquitous progression.
As for favorite pieces ever, Scriabin’s piano concerto is up there (2nd movement especially).
@elezend
The video left me grinning since the time I watched it up until I am writing this reply. That was hilarious! “Whenever I find myself in trouble, Pachelbel comes after me… I’ll see you in hell, Pachelbel” ROFL
@blissmo
Thanks for sharing… now I would have to look for their other songs >.< It’s addicting.
Hawt violinists with a similarly hawt cellist.. great song.
@lelangir
So true, its omnipresent melody is basically what is being played over and over until now. You’d even hear it being played as bridal marches. What strikes me most in this song is its influence that has survived ages. It has practically become the basic foundation of most modern music. IMHO, it is the sleeper hit that surpassed Beethoven’s 5th. Chopin had some of his works creeping into the modern scene, but not like this one. If Pachelbel was alive today, he would have already been a tycoon just from his royalties alone.
Thanks for dropping by.
Dammit, now I have a vision of Pachelbel living in utter dissipation in some penthouse suite, frittering away his massive wealth!
@lknight
ROFL… imagine, he’d practically be rolling in money now… Just like good ol’ uncle scrooge. Add the private jets he would prolly be owning, too.
this is also my favorite piece (well… this one and jesu, joy of man’s desiring)! though i really didn’t like the rendition they had in la corda… but hte orgel version was very nice ~have you ever heard it?
Hi Biankita…
The Orgel version… I think I already have…. the version I like most is the good old violin, 2nd violin, viola and cello combo… add a little piano to the mix as well.
jesu, joy of man’s desiring is also a very nice piece.
oh man canon in D…I worked at a tourist shop one summer where they had the “sample CD music” looped over and over…half of it was pachelbel’s canon…I used to like it before that though!! (but I always feel sorry for the cellist, they have to play 8 slow notes over and over for the whole piece while the violins get the fun part :/ )
Speaking of this, if you’re watching Amatsuki, it’s literally played in the 2nd episode.