Canon

Introduction to Canon:

Canon - a type of polyphonic music, originally meaning "law". The melody of one part chases the other part from beginning to end, until the end...the last knot, the last chord, they will merge together and never separate. The extremely lingering music is like two people following each other through life and death.

Canon is the name of a musical form, which is characterized by repeating the same piece of music at intervals of several syllables. The general method of playing is to start with the cello, and three violins join in one after another with an interval of eight beats. The violins all play the same melody. There are only three different melodies before and after, and each section has only two measures of melody for repeated playing. ; The cello's melody is only two measures from beginning to end, repeated as many as twenty-eight times, but the listener is intoxicated by the melody and does not feel monotonous at all. Being able to control simplicity as well as complexity, the author can be said to have reached the state of perfection. The author is German Johann Pachelbel (1653 ~ 1706), who was Bach's teacher. However, some people say that an unknown composer at the time pretended to be the work of the then-famous Pacabel in order to sell the piece.

A form of polyphonic music composed purely of imitation. When each part that enters successively plays (sings) a melody on the same or different pitches from beginning to end, it is called a canon. The first voice to appear is called the opening sentence or main sentence, and the subsequent voices are called response sentences or reply sentences.

There are many types of canons, the main ones are: ① Positive canons. The main sentence and the answer sentence are completely consistent in direction and rhythm, and are generally called according to the interval distance between them, such as canon, fourth canon, fifth canon, etc. In regular canons, in addition to the same degree and octave, canons in other intervals are often imitated freely to avoid tonal overlap; among them, in addition to free imitation to maintain tonal unity, canons in fourths and fifths can also be imitated strictly. , causing the answer sentence to shift into the subordinate or dominant tone. ②Change canon. The answer sentence is a variation of the main clause. If the tense of the main clause is doubled, it becomes an increasing tense canon, and vice versa, it becomes a decreasing tense canon; if the sounds of the main clause are imitated in reverse, it is called a reflection canon or a reverse canon. Imitation of the order in which the sounds appear is reversed is called a retrograde canon or a crab-walking canon. If the answer sentence is retrograde and reflected in the main sentence, it is called a retrograde reflection canon. In addition, there are other forms of canon, such as double or triple canon, that is, there are two or three pairs of canon progressions with different melodies at the same time; endless canon, that is, the end of the canon is connected with the beginning of the music, making the music loop endlessly. ; There is a final canon, that is, the answer is no longer imitated, and an ending part is added to form a termination.

The earliest history of canon can be traced back to the folk music forms of the 13th century, such as hunting songs, round singing, etc. The cantata is a small vocal piece in the form of an endless canon in which each voice enters at the same spacing. It became popular in England after the 13th century. A complete canon appeared in the 15th century and was favored by Flemish composers. Since then, the canon has often been used as an independent small piece of music or as a section in a large piece of music.

What is canon?

Canon is not a song name, but a musical form, which literally means "rotation" and its original meaning is "regular". Refers to a writing technique for polyphonic music. The melody of one part follows another part from beginning to end. The same melody of several parts appears one after another, crosses, imitates each other, chases and entwines each other, and the parts are almost repetitive in a monotonous sense. Until the end...the last knot, the last chord, they will merge together and never separate. The extremely lingering music is like two people following each other through life and death. Music written in the canon technique is called "canon music". Although Cannon is not as climax-like and thrilling as the Romantic works, it intersects with each other to create a variety of timbre effects in a seemingly repetitive and ordinary process. Ordinary rhythms pulsate with the ever-changing vitality, making people intoxicated and calm like angels. The carol we are familiar with is a type of canon. Canons appeared in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Later generations often adopted ancient tunes as canon themes. Such as Bach's "Five Canon Variations". Canon techniques were also commonly used in symphonies and sonatas of the 19th century, such as Beethoven's "Symphony of Destiny".

To put it simply, canon is a composition technique, which means "the same melody is played two beats apart, one bar, or two bars apart."

"Canon" is a musical form that uses one or more parts at a certain time interval to imitate the original melody based on the principle of strict imitation. As for what instruments to use and how many parts to use, it is up to the composer. Generally speaking, 2-6 parts are enough. If someone has to write dozens of parts, it is not a bad idea. But modern music Something that happens all the time. Canons are the most basic type of polyphonic music. Generally, many composers have to make a lot of canons to practice their skills when learning polyphonic music. But they are just exercises. There don't seem to be many numbered works, and they are There are all kinds of instruments, and there are many in Hindemith's tutorials, for flute and piano, viola and piano... Canon can be heard in many places, not just the one by Pahel Bell, but probably also by Bach. There are quite a few canons, but I haven’t heard Bach’s works, so it’s hard to talk nonsense. Many symphonic works have parts that use Canon's technique, but they are not separately mentioned as a separate work like Pahelber's. By the way, Canon does not have to imitate the melody exactly. It can speed up and slow down the tempo (this should be seen in Pahel Baird Canon), and can also do reflection processing.

Among the canon pieces, Pachelbel's Canon is the most famous one. The simple melody is repeated over and over again, and the high and low parts follow strict counterpoint rules, each moving forward regularly. The harmonious performance of the graceful melody ends gloriously, without sounding monotonous at all. It is thought-provoking and has a profound aftertaste.

About Pachelbel' Johann:

English name: Pachelbel, Johann

Date of birth and death: 1653/09/01-- 1706/03/09

Nationality: Germany

Music School: Baroque

Biography

Pachelbel was a composer of the late German Baroque era A composer and church organist, he was a quite radical composer at that time. The organ and keyboard music he wrote during his lifetime were his main areas of creation for which he was recognized. His status in the creation of Protestant religious music was also quite high. Unfortunately, his Many of the works have not been properly preserved, and some are still buried in libraries across Germany.

From an early age, Pachelbel showed interest in intellectual pursuits, especially music. While studying at the High School of St. Lorenz, he also learned composition and instrumental performance skills from Heinrich Schwemmer and Wecker. On June 29, 1669, Pachelbel entered Altdorf School (Altdorf) and served as organist in St. Lorenz Church. A year later, Pachelbel was forced to drop out of school due to financial conditions, terminating his university education. However, in the spring of the following year, because of his talent in academic knowledge, he was selected to another college to receive scholar training. And because of his special expertise in music, the school even allowed him to study with Prenz outside school. Kaspar Prentz studied composition. Under the influence of Prenz, Pachelbel gradually transformed his original North German style into Italian style.

Since Pachelbel himself believed in the emerging Lutheranism in Germany at that time, he followed his teacher Prenz to Vienna in 1673 and became the organist of St. Stephen's Church. In the Catholic city of Vienna, Pachelbel was exposed to religious music written by Catholic composers in South Germany and Italy. After that, he entered Eisenach as the court organist. This was Isaac The Duke of Eisenach, John. The jurisdiction of Prince George. Five years later, due to the death of the prince's brother, the palace was in mourning, and the musicians were laid off, Pachelbel left Eisenach on May 18, 1678. After this Pachelbel came to the Predigerkirche in Erfurt. This church has very strict requirements for the organist. In addition to accompanying the disciples of the new sect in singing hymns and providing preludes to the hymns, the organist is not allowed to improvise randomly, but every year he must give full play to his experience and experience in playing the organ. An exquisite concert to show that he is not a vegetarian. As a result, Pachelbel's organ skills were brought into full play and he published many important organ works, establishing his reputation as a famous organist in the late Baroque period.

In 1681, when Pachelbel was 28 years old, he married Barbara Gabler. Barbara died of dystocia two years later. The following year he remarried Judith Drommer, and this marriage gave him seven children. Eisenach is Bach's hometown, so Pachelbel was also familiar with Bach's father. He also became the godfather of Bach's sister and was also responsible for teaching music to Bach's brother. After Bach's father passed away, the responsibility of educating Bach in music fell on his eldest brother, so we can say that Pachelbel is Bach's master.

Leaving Erte, Pachelbel came to the court of Wurttemberg, which is located in Stuttgart, the jurisdiction of Duchess Magdalena Sibylla. ), this place gave him a lot of professional freedom. Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. In the autumn of 1692, due to the invasion of the French army, he was forced to return to his birthplace of Nuremberg, and finally moved to Gotha. It happened that the original organist of St. Sebald Church in Nuremberg, where he was born, and Pachelbel's teacher, Weick, passed away, allowing him to successfully take over the position of teacher. Here he remained until his death. During his five years in Nuremberg, Bahaiber wrote important religious chorales and organ fugues such as the Magnificat, which is regarded as his masterpiece in his later years.

The full name of Pachelbel's Canon is "Canon and Gigue in D" (Canon in D major). The song became well-known because it was used as the soundtrack for the film "Ordinary People", which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, and "My Sassy Girl" also used the piece in scenes.

Pachelbel's Canon was composed around 1680. Three hundred years later, its charm remains undiminished and it has become the most popular instrumental piece among modern people.

Canon's version

The most original is of course Mr. Pachelbel's Canon in D major by the quartet

The great conductor Karajan was played at the Vienna Music Festival in 1966 Mr. Canon's version has a little bit of a violin added to it.

In 1985, George Winston's December came out, bringing with him his uniquely modified piano version.

(Variations on the Kanon by Pachelbel)

In 1987, a modern version performed by guitar emperor Nicolas Angeles was released. (Canon (Guitar by Nicolas Angelis))

In 1992, the great harpist Mask and the flutist *** played the extremely elegant Canon in D at the anniversary ceremony of the Royal Academy of Music.

In 1995, Japanese star Kyoko Fukada also personally performed the Canon that she had changed by herself in her album.

In 1997, Jun Ji-hyun released an album called Pure apple, and the sixth song was Canon Flying In The Sky performed by Jun Ji-hyun herself

Canon--an alternative version

canon-guitar (Flamenco Flamenco version)

Download various versions of Canon:

The purest Canon In D (/Canon/01.mp3)

Piano Mood - Canon In D.mp3 (/Canon/02.mp3)

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Canon.mp3 (/Canon/03.mp3)

Eileen Ivers - Humors of Ballyloughlin/Knockn.mp3 (/Canon/04.mp3)

Bond - Lullaby.mp3 (/Canon/05.mp3)

Pachelbel - Canon in D major.mp3（/Canon/06.mp3)

Hu Qinglan - Two Worlds.mp3（/Canon/07.mp3)

Creative Background

Most The famous canon is the canon of the seventeenth-century German composer Johann Pachelbel (Pachelbel, 1653-1706). Its full name is "Canon and Gigue in D" (Canon in D major). The song became well-known because it was used as the soundtrack for the film "Ordinary People", which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, and "My Sassy Girl" also used the piece in scenes. This is a German composer, but it is really difficult for Germany to produce such beautiful inspiration for him. This is music that the author wrote when he was in Venice, Italy. It uses the rondo form and has elements of infinite motion music in it. The reason why this music is particularly famous among all canons is that it has a hint of Italian sadness, sweet and peaceful sadness.

The young Pachelbel endured the great pain of his beloved wife and children dying of the plague, and created a set of immortal music to commemorate the deceased. One of the variations is known to future generations. The so-called Canon in D Major. To be precise, as the name of a musical form, canon does not refer to a specific piece of music. Its original meaning is "rule". "The same melody appears successively in each part at different heights such as the same degree or fifth degree, causing one to follow the other." The melody of one voice chases the other voice from beginning to end, until the end...the last knot, the last chord, they will merge together and never be separated, just like the world will never be separated until death. Chongqing's love, the two people who love each other are together in life and death, and they are extremely entangled.

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