Download Johann Pachelbel - Me llama Brittany

Johann Pachelbel
GERMAN ORGANIST, TEACHER AND COMPOSER
1653-1706
Pachelbel belonged to a generation
of German Composers
Johan Fischer
1646-1716
Nicolaus Bruhns
1665-1697
Georg Bohm
1661-1733
Education

St Lorenz High School

Musical instruction from G.C. Wecker and Heinrich Schwemmer

University of Altdorf 1969- age 15

Gymnasium Poeticum-age 16
Work Experience
On a personal
level
•
First wife and child died
unexpectedly
•
Remarried with 7 children.
•
4 of his children followed
artistic paths: 2 organists, 1
instrument maker, 1
painter/engraver
•
Johann Pachelbel died in
1706 at 52 years old.
Canon in D
Major
Widely used in the modern world as a
wedding processional.
The history of Canon in D
Influence in our music today

Sk8tr Boi-Avril Lavigne

Backet Case- Green Day

Graduation- Vitamin C

Life goes on- Tupac

Superman- Goldfinger

The Day You Went Away- M2M

Don’t Matter- Akon

Girls Fall Like Dominoes- Niki Minaj

The Black Parade- My Chemical
Romance

Operation- Reliant K
“
Music Analysis: Canon in D
BEGINNING: THE BEGINNING STARTS WITH A PIZZICATO FROM THE BASS. THIS INVOLVES PAUSING FOR 1 BEAT AND THEN
PLUCKING 3 QUARTER NOTES IN SUCCESSION. THE CELLOS ARE PLAYING THE BASS LINE WITH WHOLE NOTES IN A LOVELY
SCALE. VIOLINS COME IN SHORTLY THEREAFTER AND JOIN IN ON THE BASS LINE AT A HIGHER OCTAVE. THE 2 SOUNDS
TOGETHER CREATE A BEAUTIFUL CONSONANT HARMONY. THE VOLUME IS AT A NICE PIANO AND THE RHYTHM APPEARS
TO BE A QUADRUPLE METER.
”
00:30 VIOLINS CONTINUE THE DE-ESCALATION OF THEIR SCALE ON THE BASS LINE AS THE 2ND VIOLIN START THE BASS LINE
SCALE UP AT THE TOP. THE PIZZICATO AND BASS HARMONY CONTINUE ON AT THIS POINT. THE RHYTHM IS STILL AT A
PIANO AT THIS TIME. THE TEXTURE BEGINS AN IMITATION FORMAT
00:44: VIOLAS START IN AT THE TOP OF THE BASS LINE SCALE OF WHOLE NOTES WHILE THE 2ND VIOLINS CONTINUE THEIR
DE-ESCALATION OF SCALE USING WHOLE NOTES. THIS AGAIN CREATES A BEAUTIFUL CONSONANT HARMONY WITH THE
CELLOS. AT THIS TIME THE IST VIOLINS START IN ON THE MELODY AT A MODERATO RHYTHM CONSISTING OF QUARTER
NOTES. THE MELODY FEELS A LITTLE DISJUNCT. THIS IS HAPPENING AS THE BASSISTS CONTINUE THEIR PIZZICATO.
00:57: 2nd violins start on at the beginning of the melody using quarter notes as the 1st violin is
continuing through to the end of the disjunct melody. Violas continue on their scale of whole
notes in harmony with the cello and the bass continues their pizzicato of quarter notes. The
texture is polyphonic.
1:26: The form begins to repeat itself which provides a sense of comfort. The polyphonic and
imitation texture continues mostly through the 1st and second violins and the viola as the bass
continues their pizzicato with quarter notes and the cello continue their bass line of whole
notes. Violins and violas move into a crescendo from mezzo to forte. 1st violins also being to
quicken their tempo by playing eighth notes.
1:56: The polyphonic texture continues through the violins and violas as their crescendo is still
building. 1st violins playing a quarter note followed by a half note with a very strong and
accentuated sound. The form continues to repeat itself.
2:26: The violins and viola are playing in a beautiful harmony. The polyphony continues to
build and become more complex. Dynamically, the music continues to build with each
instrument becoming stronger and more defined in their separate pieces. The pizzicato
continues through this point.
2:56: The violins cease playing the melody at this time. The pizzicato continues with an
accompaniment from what sounds like a harp, keyboard or organ instrument. The bass line
scale continues in a piano volume.
3:26: The violins pick back up on the bass line but instead of whole notes they are playing
quarter notes. Their volume is in a crescendo. The texture of the piece simplifies at this time.
3:56: All of the instruments have joined back in at this point. Volume is still in a crescendo.
The timbre has such beautiful harmonics. The texture becomes an intricate polyphony
once again.
4:26: The strings come together wonderfully at this time. The repetitive form takes on a bit
of a different feel as the violins and viola play additional notes that haven’t been
previously heard. The overall feel of the piece is strong yet serene at the same time.
4:56: The second violins playing the base line scale is such a great accompaniment to the
1st violin and creates a great consonance.
5:26: All of the parts of the music blend so harmonically at this point. The notes are all so
smooth and rich that I feel goosebumps! This is one of my favorite parts of the piece (from
5:16 up through 5:56)
5:56: The violins continue their soprano tones with beautifully placed vibrato as the violas
play at a forte level. The bass continues to play the bass line scale throughout
6:26: After a brief pause, the piece starts over with the bass playing bass line scale and the
cellos doing their pizzicato. The violins play eighth notes of the bass scale as well. The music
is a little bit stronger than a piano level but it feels as though it is going to crescendo into
great volume.
6:56: The 2nd violins pick up the bass line scale at this time as the 1st violins continue on to
play the melody with quarter notes. The pizzicato continues in the background as the
harps continue to play.
7:26: The 1st violins continue their quarter notes as they begin a different section of the
melody. The 2nd violins then pick up the beginning of the melody starting their quarter
notes. Cellos continue their pizzicato and bass continues the bass line scale.
7:56: The violas and 1st violins are very prominent to me at this time. The volume starts to crescendo.
As the polyphony once again becomes more complex.
8:26: This part is all about the violins and violas as they start to build volume. The pizzicato and bass
scale are still being played in the background but at a much more piano level.
8:56: The music becomes more simplified as the violins and violas are playing the same notes in
perfect harmony. The pizzicato continues in softer tones in the background.
9:26: The violins have ceased, allowing for the harp and keyboard instruments to take the spotlight.
It sounds as though the strings are playing pp in the background.
9:56: The violins and violas start to crescendo as the pizzicato continues in the background.
10:26: The piece once again becomes more complex. As each instrument begins playing different
notes the dynamic is beautiful and very interesting to hear all at once. The violins start to
crescendo.
10:56: The violins continue playing their melody as the viola plays an altered version of the bass
line scale. The feeling of this part is so rich and beautiful.
11:26: The pizzicato continues on and thus begins my favorite part. The tones are so rich and
absolutely amazing. The high octave of the note combined with the expertly timed vibrato
defines perfection in this piece.
11:56: the notes have repeated from the last 30 seconds.
12:26: After a brief pause, and the piece begins again.
References

http://www.biography.com/people/johann-pachelbel-9431433

http://www.hoasm.org/VIB/Pachelbel.html

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/437515/Johann-Pachelbel

http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/pachelbel.php

http://musiced.about.com/od/classicalmusicians/a/onehitwonder.htm

http://listology.com/lukeprog/list/songs-based-pachelbels-canon

http://weddingmusicunveiled.com/the-pachelbel-canon-in-d-what-youprobably-dont-know-10007
References Continued

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/365-photos/st-stephenscathedral-vienna/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu5TlSXEzzs