Johann Pachelbel: Canon for Three Violas and Piano: Viola Ensemble: Score and

Canon in D is the most famous piece of music by Johann Pachelbel, written in or around 1680 as a piece of chamber music for three violins and basso continuo. Willard A. Palmer's simplified arrangement is for the intermediate pianist. / Piano

While Pachelbel has been most admired as a composer of organ works and Lutheran church music his Canon in D has long been one of his most celebrated compositions. It combines two time-honored compositional devices. The first of these is of course the canon a procedure whereby a melody in one part is strictly imitated by one or more other parts; a round (such as for example Frère Jacques) is a type of canon. The second device involves a short bass line (refeered to as a ground bass) that is repeated constandly over which the composer writes continuous variations. In its original form the work consists of an initial statement of an eight note ground bass followed by27 variations in strict canonic style for three violins above that bass. In addition to these four essential parts an appropriate harmonic background would have been improvised on harpsichord lute or organ. In the present arrangement Pachelbel's note values have been doubled for greater ease of reading and the work's canonic structure has been somewhat modified in order to make it more readily playable by violinists and pianists at an intermediate level. Since dynamics bowing indications articulations and slurs were not customarily provided by composer of the Baroque era the arranger and the editor have added them here as well as a metronome indication and a few cadential trills. Obviously these editorial additions should be regarded only as suggestions.

Arranged for Organ by Nigel Ogden Among the all-time classical favourites and an essential item in any church organist's library of service music Pachelbel's Canon in D receives a fresh and original makeover in this new arrangement by the celebrated recitalist and radio host Nigel Ogden. Scored by the composer for an ensemble of three violins and bass the piece adapts beautifully for performance on the organ. Ogden's treatment retains all the soothing melodious character of the original masterpiece while falling easily within the range of amateur players who are able to manage a simple pedal part.

Would Pachelbel approve? Who knows. But singers and audiences surely will! This rhythmic rendition presents the famous 'Canon in D? with nonsensical scat syllables. Sing a cappella or with the optional piano accompaniment. It's guaranteed to be the most memorable three minutes of any concert program. / Choeur Mixte (SATB)

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