The Sounds of Peace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYVw9xe2kW8 (Listen to the Original String version while you read if you'd like)

Perhaps one of the greatest classical pieces of music ever written came from the late 1600’s. Johann Pachelbel wrote Canon in D, which is still a popular tune known and used today. Pachelbel was a German born composer, who was also a well renounced organist, and a teacher, who soon became a well known figure in all of southern Germany. He wrote and composed many classical pieces but Canon in D was the piece that made him legendary.
Canon in D was his only canon piece, but was never considered a true canon because he didn’t carry on the unison in three sections of the piece. What’s so special about this piece is the instruments it is directed towards to emphasize the beauty of all instruments in an orchestra. Pachelbel composed it for the three sections of violins and violas, giving each a lovely melody. The only instrument that doesn’t seem to live up to it’s beauty is the cello or bass of the song, because it gets eight quarter notes, that are repeated over and over again throughout the entirety of the song.
In the 1970’s the piece became very popular in America. Now it is commonly used at weddings, graduation ceremonies, and receptions. It represents a positive image, and peaceful tone, which is why so many of today’s artists use the count and notes in extensive amounts of today’s lyrical pieces.
In the song itself, the sounds start off very peaceful and quiet, with only a cello playing its melody. It shows how calm the life of the song starts. From there the violins and second violins. They carry on the melody, as if they learn from the eight step bass, before they go out on their own. The first violins then begin their own melodies which are soon followed and repeated by the second violins. The whole song is all string instruments but can be preformed on literally any instrument today.
As the song progressed the violas fill in with the cello, while the first and second groups of violins take off on their fast up-beat leading melody which carries on for about a third of the song. For the life of the song this is the still peaceful yet frantic section as its growing in intensity and melody. Once the second violas join the cello again it calms down to a whole new level.
Just as the song started it’s life, being mellow and calm, it begins to die down in the same direction. Only the first set of violins carry on their own melody as the tempo slows down, becoming a calm peaceful melody once again. This classical carries on and eventually fades out, leaving the listener in a peaceful state of mind because of the charming melodies all combined on five different versions of string instruments.
This is a piece with no lyrics, but a stong meaning. After you listen to it you’ll understand that simplicity can present true beauty in life. Pachelbel represented the stages of life, in three beats (although some say four), throughout the entirety of his song Canon in D. One reason why understand this piece so well, is because my band has used the notes, and I’ve preformed it many times to audiences. It is my favorite classical piece to listen to because I admire the complexity of the melodies in such a simple work of music. Its truly beautiful. If you ever need to hear the sound of peace, try this peace out. It helps me every time I need to calm down or focus!