Canon in D

That Dweam Within a Dweam

Pachelbel's Canon in D 

Recommended by Campbell

Campbell has strict guidelines about how he prefers the song to be played. A string quartet. Two violins, one viola, and one cello. He calls it "beautifully written instrumentation," but it's even more special and personal to him because it was one of the first classical pieces that he liked. He played the viola part for this song once, and now its familiarity is a source of comfort.

I hope the version above by the Vetta Quartet meets your standards, Campbell.

I do like this string version, how it starts so simply with the cello solo before being joined by the sweet violin.

A brief music lesson: a canon is a piece in which two or more voices (human voices or instruments) sing or play the same melody at different times. If you ever sang in choir, a round is a type of canon.

This is beautifully done in this particular canon. I love how each voice comes in one at a time so that you can appreciate each instrument and each individual line of music.

Being a pianist, I'm partial to this arrangement. The beginning reminds me of a music box. And then later when it adds the higher notes...perfection.

Or perhaps you prefer this, with a full orchestra?

Then there's also this version that tries to be as close as possible to what listeners might have heard in the 17th century when this music was first written. How incredible is it that we can listen to music written over 300 years ago and still be able to connect with it? Still find it beautiful? Still play it at, like, every wedding?

Truly timeless.

(Bonus)

Overview:

Genre:
Baroque / "Classical"

Favorite Moment:
That trill at 1:10 in the video embedded at the beginning of the post.

Verdict:
Canon in D for Delightful

Note: The way people popularly use the term "classical" to refer to any kind of old-ish instrumental music is not exactly correct. True classical music must have been produced in the Western world between 1750 and 1820. That which we commonly call "classical" music is more accurately known as Western Art Music.