Search This Blog

20130226

Pachelbel's Canon in D Minor Rocks!



Here's my Pachelbel's Canon playlist. In both this blog post and the playlist's description, I'll be describing each video. However, this post will give the background details about the Canon on Youtube.

My thanks to Google for acquiring Youtube as well as to the posters of the videos.

Anyways, on with the show...

Introduction: It Began With Canon Rock

Ever since I heard Pachelbel's Canon in D Minor on Youtube, I've been wondering if it has been used in popular music.

Back in 2010 on Youtube, the rock version of the Canon was being played by guitarists of all stripes. Originally in 2007, I believe Jerryc (funtwo) had his Canon Rock rendition to another site, which later was posted to Youtube.

Today, after finding a song called Canon Dance on my cache of favorite music files, I Google'd "Pachelbel's Canon", and found Ray Hutching's website which has everything to do with Pachelbel's Canon.

On it, he referred to Pet Shop Boys' song Go West.

So I checked out the song on Youtube.

After listening to Go West, I realized that Pet Song Boys not only uses the Canon in the intro, but also uses variations of it in the main part of the song, and at the end during the outro.

Finest Classical Renditions of Pachelbel's Canon

One of the renditions of the original classical music is by Herbert Von Karajan and The Berlin Philharmonic which was first played in 1969,

After listening to it, I found the song to be peaceful and inspirational.

Movies and Ads containing Pachelbel's Canon

In popular culture, this song has also found its way into Father of the Bride — "Canon in D For Strings And Continuo" by Ettore Stratta & the Baroque Chamber Orchestra. Personally I find it as brilliant as the Karajan version.

At the beginning of Ordinary People, a hymn based on Pachelbel's Canon is sung by a choir.

However, I especially love the humor in the Winfield Farms ad.

Other Modern Variations of Pachelbel's Canon

In addition to Pet Shop Boys' version, there's a new modern pop-rock variation called Rockelbel's Canon (Pachelbel's Canon in D) with 4 cellos in it by ThePianoGuys.

Pachelbel's Canon also makes up the whole of Lullaby on Bond's Classified album. Bond consists of four women who play stringed instruments. From what I can tell, it's a gimmick tied to the new Bond movie.

One of the most unique variations of the Canon is Christylez Bacon's It's The Beatbox, Baroque Style.

Conclusion: Pachelbel's Canon on Youtube

On Youtube, by searching for "Pachelbel's Canon" will give many more originals and variations of the music. However, my love for it was renewed by Matt Raich's original guitar solo of Canon Rock.

Of course, this is but a small portion of all the variations of Pachelbel's Canon. Once again, thanks to Google, Youtube and the video posters, and finally to you, the gentle reader.


References:

Ray Hutchings' website about Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D major: http://www.ray.hutchings.dial.pipex.com/pachelbel/

If you're interested in learning about the best of the Canon, I recommend Top Tracks for Pachelbel's Canon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mxpIH-OWMI&list=AL94UKMTqg-9DdeMfAivgNozlGmIxOWJ-B

No comments: