A question regarding Pachelbel's Canon

Hi,

I have a question, for two violins and cello, would it be alright to have all three instruments play the canon of Pachelbel's canon, or should the two violins play the melody and the cello the basso continuo part?

Are either of those arrangements acceptable?

I don't think the piece itself is acceptable but I don't see why that wouldn't work for it

I don't think the piece itself is acceptable but I don't see why that wouldn't work for it

What? You don't like it?

What? You don't like it?

I hate it

I hate it

Oh. That's too bad. It's an absolutely beautiful piece. But that's for another thread.

Funny...

I'm not sure, not having the score in front of me, but isn't the Pach. Canon a 3-part canon? I think it would lose a BIT of its contrapuntal charm from only being played by 2 violins if your cello is playing the bassline.

It IS a bit overdone.. but it's still a lovely piece.

I'm not sure, not having the score in front of me, but isn't the Pach. Canon a 3-part canon? I think it would lose a BIT of its contrapuntal charm from only being played by 2 violins if your cello is playing the bassline.

It IS a bit overdone.. but it's still a lovely piece.

Does it need the bass part? Yes, I agree, it is a little over played, but oh well. It'd be really cool if people started playing the Gigue, that, if I remember correctly goes after the canon.

Funny...

Yeah, 'tis. I have seen that before and I subscribed to all of his videos. I do not like the piece either. It is ok I suppose, but it just loops around and around in a circle. It is essentially a pop song WAY back in the day. It is like a wind up toy that is on the verge of exploding all of its gears all over the place.

Does it need the bass part?

No way would I play this without the bass/cello part, though you might get away with omitting the keyboard continuo instrument. I would never perform it without all three parts...as QC said, it would lose a third of its contrapuntal charm and texture.

I'm inclined to say that anyone who hates Pachelbel's Canon in D hasn't heard it played as was originally intended. I hated it too until I heard an early music ensemble play it at a lively clip with tons of character and personality. It shouldn't be a slow dirge with too much vibrato, but sadly that's how it's come down to most of us via modern musicians who didn't know any better.

Yeah... Hogwood's version is my favorite version of Pachelbel's...

For the fact that it's a ground bass variation form in a canon, I think Pachelbel did pretty well... I'd like to see anyone else write a 2 measure long ground bass, and then write a three-part canon above it and keep it interesting... All I know is that I can't do that.

And please, don't have the cello play the canon part... that's not the cello part... maybe you violinists can double-stop the third part amongst yourselves.