Canon in D: Tired of it yet?

Question

We (classical music fanatics) have all heard Pachelbel's relaxing piece, and equally we've heard Rob Paravonian's famous rant about it via youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM

We, equally know that essentially everyone involved in the classical music and wedding industries alike hate the chord progression used in just about every style of music. But is it REALLY all that bad? Do you think that people hate it because it's everywhere, because of the terrible basso continuo part, or because it's flat out "uncool" to enjoy it?

Hey. Cellist should not complain about crappy orchestral parts. I'm a bassist.

Answer 1

Because it is totally overplayed for people who don't really know anything about classical music and have the attention span of a gnat.

Answer 2

Partly I hate it because it is everywhere but mostly I hate it because people ignore all the other wonderful classical music ever written and say "Isn't the Pachelbel Canon the greatest piece of classical music ever written ?"
They have never heard Bach' solo works for violin or Beethoven's violin concerto or Mozart's operas or Chopin's nocturnes.........I get so frustrated. I just want to grab them by the shoulders and give them a good shake.

But I would like to thank the person above for the link to the LAGQ. That was wonderful. It has been a long time since I enjoyed Pachelbel's Canon LOL

Answer 3

I had an English teacher for study hall last year. He claimed that he "enjoyed" classical music. Well, I wonder how much he was really into it. You see, he had one classical CD that he would play almost every single day in study hall, and he would start at the beginning every time.

Soon, I began a tally of how many times I heard Canon in D and the Andante from Mozart's 21st Piano Concerto "Elvira Madigan". Well, let's just say each surpassed 40 times that quarter. I asked him if he would like to borrow something from my large library of recorded classical music. I brought him some stuff, but they sat on top of this CD player that continued to pump out Canon for the rest of the quarter.

So in answer to your question, YES!!!!!!!!!! I AM TIRED OF CANON IN D.

Luckily, though, I play the violin. So when I had to play the song in orchestra, I got off a little easier. : )

Answer 4

The idea of a canon in upper voices over a ground bass is a kind of neat idea, but unfortunately, Pachelbel's canonic writing just isn't that interesting.

To me, one of the things that makes a piece of music good is that it has some sort of interesting aspects that demand further listening. That is, when I get to the end of it, I feel like I need to hear it again to figure out what's going on. When I've heard this particular Canon, it ends and I go, "ok, I get it." And there's no reason to listen again. This is the same problem I have listening to most modern popular music.

[I'll admit that there certainly are pieces that I "understand" quickly, but still want to listen to because of their sheer aesthetic beauty. Pachelbel's canon isn't one of them.]

Answer 5

I know what you mean. xD

It's overplayed, much like Mozart's A Little Night Music (well, not THAT much), but the piece is great for introducing someone to classical music. It's relaxing, easy to listen to and easy to relate to. I don't know about other people, but it's always fun to hear another Canon variation. I'm not bothered by the basso continuo part. It's not really that bad. What's sad about Canon is that it eclipses other awesome, more complicated pieces that people should be aware of.

Answer 6

I like it, and doubt if I will ever tire of it. As well as being a famous piece of baroque music in its own right, it has also been the inspiration for several pop and rock songs, "Go West" by the Village People being a classic example.

However, one of my favourite interpretations of Pachelbel's Canon in D must surely be that by electric violinist Ed Alleyne Johnson on his album "Purple Electric Violin Concerto 2", http://www.amazon.co.uk/Purple-Electric-Violin-Concerto-2/dp/B00005KJOX

Here, Ed starts off with the traditional Canon and then makes it ROCK!

Answer 7

The piece comes from a time period where there is not a lot going on musically tro call eternally great. However, Pachabel wrote some nicve stuff during hius lifetime...I also think it not a canon, but a passacaglia.

Answer 8

The ONLY classical version of Canon in D I will listen to is this recording that has ocean waves, by Anastasi, continuously playing behind it. Beautiful, but I agree that the theme is overused.

http://www.amazon.com/Pachelbel-Canon-Ocean-Sounds/dp/B000001J54/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1199231000&sr=1-2

Answer 9

It is a bit over worked, but I still love it. As an organist, the wedding song I am sick of is "Here Comes The Bride"....I wonder if anyone ever actually listens to the whole opera. Poor Wagner's probably rolling in his grave!

Answer 10

Yeah, Rob, go to hell to look for Pachelbel. Easy to complain, the old man is dead.

If you get bored with it, do something intelligent:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yflWG-e38OU&feature=related

Who of the living composers will be still interpreted 300 years from now?
I think, it was a contribution to the evolution of music. Bach was only 20 years old when Pachelbel died.
I like the piece, it is relaxing.

PS Why is it still interpreted? Product which doesn't sell, are not on the market.

Answer 11

It is a good piece of music... but,
It suffers from overexposure. I have a great version of it and when it plays on my ipod on "shuffle" I enjoy it. (Although I rarely choose to play it). My real problem with it is that due to its exposure, too many people (who only know three or four classical pieces) tend to extol its virutes like it is the greatest piece of classical music ever written. Frankly... it is not, - even close