Canon in D - Johann Pachelbel

Canon in D Major, it is a canon by the German composer Johann Pachelbel. Its original name is Canon and Giga for 3 violins and continuous bass (in German Kanon und Gigue für 3 Violinen mit Generalbaß), sometimes also called Canon and Giga in reverse or Pachelbel's Canon.

First page of the canon, the oldest known copy of the canon. Shows the first measures

The date of the composition and its circumstances are unknown, one hypothesis is that the piece was composed between 1680 and 1706, and the oldest known score in the canon dates from the 19th century.

The canon, like Pachelbel's other works, became popular during his lifetime. However, they were forgotten and remained in darkness for centuries. In 1968 Jean-François Paillard arranged the piece for chamber orchestra, which made it gain popularity until the next decade. In the 70's, the piece was recorded and performed by many musical groups and in the 80's, the presence of this piece as background music was almost inevitable. [1] From the 1970s until about 2000, the elements of the work, especially its Musical Progression, have been used in a variety of popular sounds. In the West, since the 1980s it has also been performed at weddings and funerals.

The canon was originally written for three violins and a continuous bass and a jig. Both movements are in reverse tone. Just as a canon has a single melody and for three parts, this work also has an element of a Chacona.