Topmusicanswers
So in Canon in D, the three violins are all playing imitation parts. The first violin part is the trendsetter, and then the second violin part plays the exact same thing but a couple bars delayed, and then the third violin copies the first violin, but at a delay of 4 bars. This creates a really neat overlapping effect.
- What form is Canon in D?
- What is the meaning behind Canon in D?
- What is the harmony of Canon in D?
- Why is Canon in D so beautiful?
What form is Canon in D?
Pachelbel's Canon uses a musical form—the canon—that is similar to that of the French folk song “Frère Jacques” though more complicated in design. The piece begins with one melody in the ground bass—typically performed by a cello and a harpsichord or organ.
What is the meaning behind Canon in D?
“The reason it's called a canon is because of what the three violins do in the upper voices: they play in a round.” (Just as you'd hear in “Three Blind Mice” or “Frère Jacques.”)
What is the harmony of Canon in D?
The Canon in D major was composed somewhere around 1680, but the exact date is uncertain. The work is scored for three violins and a continuo. (This often comprised of a cello and organ who played the harmony and bass parts of the music and acted as a kind of musical glue, holding the performers together).
Why is Canon in D so beautiful?
The Pachelbel Canon in D is perhaps favoured in part due to its religious connections, as Pachelbel is more well-known in classical circles for this religious or sacred music. ... This baroque piece was only discovered (or rediscovered) during the early part of the 20th century, and was then turned into sheet music.
