Canon in D major, instrumental arrangement

• Date: after 1700
• Composer: Johann Pachelbel
• Period: Baroque (1600-1749)

Review

Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706) was a fairly popular composer of the German High Baroque who wrote many works in virtually every genre from organ music to cantatas. But he was just one more one time fairly popular composer lost in the mists of musical time until Rudolf Baumgartner and the Lucerne Festival Strings decided to record a work they called Pachelbel's Canon for France's Erato in the mid-'60s. The recording was not considered worthy of release domestically in the United States except by the Musical Heritage Society. Amazingly enough, the recording became a MHS best seller and, even more amazingly, was heard by Robert Redford, who decided to use it in his film Ordinary People (1980). From there, for a brief time, Pachelbel's Canon became the most popular piece of classical music in the history of humanity. Originally written in 1700 as a short, fast piece for three violins and basso continuo, the Baumgartner recording set the pace for outlandish arrangements of the work by slowing it down to about a third its original tempo and expanding the string section by a factor of ten. Since then, Pachelbel's Canon has been arranged for brass quintet by the Canadian Brass, for flute by James Galway and for flute and voice by Galway and Cleo Laine, for string quartet by George Rochberg as part of his String Quartet No. 6, for string quartet as a gloss on "Earth Angel" by the Hampton String Quartet, for synthesizer by Tomita as something called Canon of the Three Stars, plus hundreds of other arrangements for every conceivable instrument or instruments. Occasionally, the original even gets recorded. ~ James Leonard, All Music Guide

Albums with Complete Performances of the Work

Title	Date
100 Best Adagios	2008
100 Best Baroque	2006
100 Best Classics	2006
100 Best Film Classics	2006
100 Romantic Classics [Box Set]	2000
100% Classics: The Cream of the Classics	1994
25 Classical One Hit Wonders	2004
25 Greatest Classics	2001
25 Relaxing Classics	2007
300 Years of Classical	1995
50 Classical Music Favorites	2009
50 Classics for Relaxation	2009
A Beautiful Classical Wedding	2005
A Bride's Guide to Classical Wedding Music	2003
A Celtic Inspired Wedding Collection	2008
A Day to Remember: Instrumental Music for Your Wedding	2002
A Joyful Noel: Traditional Christmas Music for Flute and Piano, Vol. 4	1994
A Little Night Music
A New Baroque	1994
A Virtuoso Christmas	1998
A Windham Hill Wedding Album	2003
Academy Classics	1994
Acoustic Wedding	2006
Aeterna Celesta	2006
Albinoni: Adagio; Pachelbel: Canon; Handel: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba	1995
Alla Romanza, Vols. 1 & 2	1987
Amazing Brass	2003
An Introduction to Classical Music	2005
An Invitation fo the Classics
Arthur Fiedler conducts Rimsky-Korsakov, Brahms, & Pachelbel	1996
Audiophile Reference, Vol. 4	2003
Baby Box	2001
Baby Concerts: El Estuche de Regalo de Lujo [4 CD]	2005
Baby Concerts: Infant	2005
Baby Concerts: Infantil	2005
Baby Einstein: Lullaby Classics	2004
Baby Einstein: Sing and Play Collection	2008
Baby Genius: Favorite Classical Tunes	2007
Baby Needs Baroque	1998
Baby Needs Music	2002
Baby's Classical Lullaby Box	2005
Baby's First Classics	1999
Baby's First: Classics, Vol. 3	2000
Baby's First: Guitar Music	2000
Baby's First: Lullabies	1999
Baby's First: Lullabies & Sleeptime	2000
Bach on Wood	1990
Ballets Opera & Masterworks	1999
Bang & Olufsen: A New View on Music [Blue Cover]
Baroque Brass
Baroque Favorites	2001
Baroque Masterpieces for the Festive Season
Baroque Music for Trumpets	1988
Baroque: The Greatest Hits	1996
Beautiful Classical Music	2000
Beautiful Classics	2007
Beautiful Wedding: Prelude	2008
Bedtime Serenades: Tranquil Classics for the Perfect Night's Sleep	2007
Bedtime Songs for Babies: Lullaby Baby	2000
Best Classics 100 [DVD Video]	2004
Best Relaxing Classics 100	2007
Best of the Canadian Brass	1989
Bizet, Beethoven, Pachelbel, Berlioz	1983
Bose Collection: Relax Disc 13
Brass In Berlin	1984
Brass Super Hits	2004
Brass: Greatest Hits	1994
Breathe: Relaxing Music from the Movies	2006
Canadian Brass Live!	1985
Canon and Gigue
Car Seat Baby	2005
Car Trax: Classics on the Move	1995
Cartime	2009
Casanova: The Art of Seduction	2006
Cellorific: Music for Multiple Cellos
Christmas Classics for Guitar
Christmas Morning Buffet	2003
Classic & Nature
Classic Football Scores	2004
Classic Interludes	2002
Classic Memories	2007
Classic Movie Themes [DualDisc]	2006
Classic Rock Violin	1996
Classic Sketches	1996
Classical
Classical 2: The Greatest Moments Ever	2006
Classical Ambience: The Ultimate in Calming Classics	2002
Classical Ambience: The Ultimate in Calming Classics	2002
Classical Autumn	2000
Classical Baby	2003
Classical Bouquet	1990
Classical Christmas
Classical Christmas [Legacy]	2005
Classical Daydreams	1997
Classical Dreams for the Celtic Harp
Classical Favorites from the Harp	2007
Classical Favourites, Vol. 1
Classical Gold: Masterpieces	2004
Classical Gold: Pachelbel With Ocean Sounds	2004
Classical Gold: Relaxation	2004
Classical Greatest Hits	2003
Classical Greatest Hits: The Inspriation behind the Pop Songs of Kylie Minogue, The Beatles, and Many More	2004
Classical Guitar Masterpieces [1999 St. Clair]	1999
Classical Guitar Masters (Box Set)	2001
Classical Guitar Masters: Six-String Serenade	1999
Classical Guitar Masters: Variations in Measure	2001
Classical Guitar Wedding: 22 Ceremony Favorites
Classical Guitar, Vol. 3 [Public Music]	1997
Classical Guitar, Vol. 3 [Platinum Disc]	2000
Classical Guitar: Romantica	2003
Classical Harp	2003
Classical Harp	1991
Classical Healing	2000
Classical Images: A Concert in Nature [DVD Video]
Classical Lullabies	2000
Classical Moods	1991
Classical Moods	1991
Classical Music	1998
Classical Music for Beginners
Classical Music for the Cinema	2006
Classical Relaxation With Ocean Sounds	1999
Classical Relaxation: Pachelbel & Tchaikovsky
Classical Requests	1998
Classical Romance	2007
Classical Wedding Music	2006
Classical Wedding Traditions	2000
Classical Wedding [Green Hill]	2009
Classicool: La musique qui rafraichit [Box Set]	1997
Classicool: La musique qui rafraichit, Vol. 2	1997
Classics at the Movies [Intersound]	1994
Classics for All Seasons: Spring	1992
Classics for Brunch	2006
Classics for Enchanted Moments	2006
Classics for Relaxation	2006
Classics for Relaxation [Collector's Tin]	2006
Classics on the Beach	2007
Classicworks: Classical Greats	2000
Classique Tentation: Ballets, Ouvertures & Suites
Commercial Classics	2001
Complete Classical Collection (Box Set)	2004
Complete Classical Music Library: The Baroque, Vol. 1 [Box Set]	2005
Complete Wedding Album	2002
Concert Band Essentials
Concerto d'Aranjuez/Four Seasons	2004
Concerts pour bébés [Box Set]	2005
Concerts pour bébés: Le nouveau-né	2005
DePapepe Plays the Classics	2007
Dinners for Two	1991
Drew's Famous Here Comes the Bride	2006
Duel	2004
Elements: Symphony of Light [W/DVD]	2005
Elements: Symphony of the Sea	2005
Enchanted Christmas	1993
Enchantment: 40 Peaceful Classics	2002
Essential	1992
Essential Baroque	2006
Evening Light	1992
Fall Asleep To The Classics [Box Set]
Fall Asleep to the Classics	2005
Favourite Classics	2001
Favourite Movie Classics	2002
For the Wine Connoisseur	2005
Forever Gold: 25 Greatest Classics	2001
Four Seasons	2004
Fresh Country Rain	2000
From This Day Forward...: Music and Readings for Weddings	1999
Fun Time with String Quartet
Gallery of Classical Music [Box Set]	2005
Gershwin, Mascagni, Pachelbel and others
Global Journey: Classical Nature	2007
Gloria	2004
Gloria! An Acoustic Guitar Christmas	1995
Goodnight	2003
Great Baroque Music	1980
Great Classics For Reading	1999
Great Classics for Reading [Somerset]	2009
Great Melodies of the Classics	1997
Great Melodies of the Classics	1992
Great Names, New Discoveries: Apex Catalogue	2005
Great Orchestral Melodies	1995
Greatest Hits for Concert Band	1998
Greatest Masterpieces of the Millenium: Pachelbel, Mozart, Vivaldi	1999
Growing Minds with Music: Classical Music	2004
Guitar & Piano Masterpieces	2000
Guitar Classics	2000
HGTV: Outdoor Entertaining	2006
Handel, Mozart: Arias & Duets	2004
Handel: La Grande Sarabande	2007
Harmony: Le Chant des Rêves	1999
Harp Artistry: Classical to Contemporary Favorites
Here Comes the Bride [Turn Up The Music]	2000
High Tech Barock
Hush Baby	2004
I Do
I.Q. Music: Be Brilliant	2003
In Classical Mood: Serenity	1996
In Dulci Jubilo: Christmas with James Galway	1991
In the Garden: Soothing Music for Relaxation	2003
Intimate Baroque	1992
Intimate Classics	2005
Into the Light	2007
Invitation to Dance: Wedding Dance [Brentwood]	2005
Iona Brown: The Collection	1998
It's a Girl! Baby's First Classicals [2003]	2000
Just Classics	2008
Kids Collection of Greatest Classics, Vol. 2	2000
Klang der Stille: Instrumental Classics
Klassiska Favoriter, Vol. 1
Klassiska Mästerverk, Vol. 2	1994
Klassiske Favoritter	1999
Kuschel Klassik, Vol. 1: Musik für die klassischen Momente	1996
Le Petit Mort: Baroque Duos	2006
Libertà
Lily's Eyes	2007
Listening Point	2005
Living with the Classics
Lovely Lullabies	2005
Lovers' Classics	2000
Lullabies for Babies (Box Set)	2004
Lullabies, Reveilees (& Siesta!)	1990
Mad about Baroque	1993
Magic of The Guitar	1998
Magic of the Guitar	1994
Magic of the Guitar	2000
Masterpiece Recital	1999
Masterpieces for Brass, Vol. II & Encores!	1991
Masters of Classical Music, Vol. 6
Meditation
Meditation: Musik zum Entspannen und Träumen
Meditations	1996
Meditations for a Quiet Night	1994
Miniaturen	1999
Momentum	2000
Mommy Classical
Morning Light
Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!	1999
Movie & Cartoon Classics You Love
Movie Classics	2005
Movie Songs	2008
Mozart: Academy in Concert
Music Essentials: Magic of the Guitar	2004
Music for Babies	2008
Music for Entertaining at Home
Music for Relaxation	1991
Music for Weddings	2009
Music for Weddings [RCA]	2008
Music for a Perfect Day: Wedding Music for Harp	2002
Music for a Quiet Morning	2004
Music for a Wedding Day	2004
Music for an Evening at Home	2005
Music for the Senses: Soothing Bubble Bath	2001
Music of the Baroque
Musikalische Adventskalender 2008	2008
Must Have... Favourite Classics	2007
Must have... Movie Classics	2007
Mystic Shores	1993
New Age of Classics: Pachelbel	1988
New Age of Classics: Pachelbel	1988
Nocturne [Hybrid SACD]	2005
Norman Rockwell: A Merry Little Christmas	2006
Now This Is Classic!, Vol. 1	1992
O Holy Night: Beautiful Classics for Christmas	2006
O Perfect Love and Other Wedding Songs	1995
Our Favorites	2007
Out of the Blue	2003
Pachebel Greatest Hits	1996
Pachelbel Canon and Other Baroque Masterpieces	1997
Pachelbel Canon and other Baroque Favorites	1994
Pachelbel With Nature's Ocean Sounds	1985
Pachelbel With Ocean Sounds	2003
Pachelbel's Greatest Hit: Canon in D	1991
Pachelbel's Greatest Hit: Canon in D	1991
Pachelbel's Greatest Hit: Canon in D	1991
Pachelbel's Greatest Hit: The Ultimate Canon	2003
Pachelbel's Greatest Hit: The Ultimate Canon	2003
Pachelbel's Greatest Hit: The Ultimate Canon	2003
Pachelbel's Greatest Hit: The Ultimate Canon	2003
Pachelbel's Greatest Hit: The Ultimate Canon	2003
Pachelbel: Canon	1988
Pachelbel: Canon In D	2009
Pachelbel: Kanon; Albinoni: Adagio	1995
Pachelbel: Kanon; Albinoni: Adagio; Bach: Air; Boccherini: Minuet	1985
Pachelbel: Kanon; Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings	1983
Peace: Pure Classical Calm	2005
Peggy's Violin: A Butterfly in Time [Includes Teacher's Guide]	2007
Perfect Autumn Wedding	2005
Perfect Spring Wedding	2005
Perfect Summer Wedding	2005
Perfect Wedding	2005
Perfect Winter Wedding	2005
Pianafiddle	2008
Popular Classics
Preludes: Music of Serenity	1991
Processional & Reflective Music for Weddings	2001
Promise	2001
Pure Classical	2007
Pure Classical Chillout
Queens of the Night: Bassoon Classics	1992
Reading On A Sunday Morning	1999
Reflections	2007
Reflections: Classical Music for Meditation	2007
Relax, Vol. 1: Smooth Classics	2008
Relax: The World's Most Beautiful Music	2008
Relaxing & Guitar Classics You Love	2006
Relaxing Classics	2000
Relaxing Classics You Love	2005
Relaxing with the Classics	2001
Rockwell: Christmas Memories	2007
Romance With the Harp	1996
Romantic Classics	2005
Romantic Classics [2006]	2006
Romantic Classics: A Sensual Collection	2003
Romantic Dinner for Two	1996
Romantic Flute	1996
Romantic Harp	1996
Romantic Interludes	2003
Romantic Moods: A Classical Love Affair	1994
Romantic Violin	2001
Romantic Wedding Music on the Harp	2001
Romantica	2002
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 60th Anniversary Celebration, Vol. 1	2002
Royal Treasury of Classical Music, Vol. 2	2000
Season of Love	2008
Seen and Heard	2004
Serenade	1996
Serenade	1996
Serenade	2006
Serenade [Bonus Track] [Japan]	2006
Serenade: A Classical Wedding Collection	2008
Serenity: Music for Harp & Flute	1997
Shadows	1993
Shir Nash in London 2	2009
Silver Linings	1989
Smart Symphonies: Classical music to help stimulate your baby's development
Solitudes: The Classics	1991
Soothing Classics with Relaxing Ocean Surf	2004
Sound Effects: Exotic Sex Classical	2001
Sound for the Soul
Sound of Cellos	1987
Sound of Silence: Musik zum Atemholen	1994
Sounds of Excellence: 200 Greatest Classics [Box Set]	2001
Soundscapes	2002
Soundtrack for Your Lifestyle	2005
Spa Music Therapy (Box Set)	2003
Stillpoint	1997
Stress Busters, Vol. 1	1989
String Quartet Wedding Music	2005
Sun-Flute 4	1986
Sunday Morning Classics [Boxsets]	2000
Sunday Morning Favourites	2005
Super Hits: Canadian Brass	2000
Sweet Dreams [Kidzup]	2003
TV Commercial Classics	2008
The #1 Baroque Album	2006
The 1st Classical Promenade	2007
The All Star Percussion Ensemble	1983
The Baroque Album	1992
The Baroque Album
The Best Classical Moments [Best Buy Exclusive]	2005
The Best Classics...Ever!	2005
The Best Violin [Best Buy Exclusive]	2005
The Best of Canadian Brass (The Millennium Collection)
The Best of Christmas [Madacy 6]	2005
The Best of Herbert von Karajan	2004
The Best of the Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe	2006
The Best of the Royal Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestras [Box Set]	1998
The Canadian Brass Go for Baroque!	1995
The Canadian Brass: Greatest Hits	1983
The Christmas Box [C & B]	2006
The Classic 100 [Box Set]	2008
The Classic 100, Vol. 1	2008
The Classic 100: Chamber Music [Box Set]	2008
The Classic 100: Chamber Music, Vol. 1	2008
The Classical Album 2005	2004
The Classical Album 2005	2005
The Classical Baby	2007
The Classical Collection
The Classical Guitar	2000
The Complete Wedding Album	1998
The Essential Guitar: Music of Beauty and Romance	2009
The Essential James Galway	2006
The Greatest Classical Music, Vol. 1
The InStyle Wedding Collection: Beautiful Music for Your Big Day	2005
The Inspired Effect	1999
The Jazz Classical Union	1982
The Knot Collection of Ceremony & Wedding Music	2006
The Most Beautiful Classical Melodies, Vol. 2
The Most Famous Classics
The Most Relaxing Pachelbel Canon and Baroque Favorites in the Universe	2009
The Movie Classics You Love	2005
The No.1 Classical Album	1996
The Only Classical Album You Will Ever Need	2007
The Pachelbel Canon with Ocean Sounds	1990
The Premium Collection: 75 Classical Masterworks [Box Set]
The Record of Calm & Tranquility: Classical Music for Relaxation	2001
The Revised Barozue Bust	1990
The Royal Treasury of Classical Music [Box Set]
The Royal Treasury of Classical Music [Box Set]	2005
The Simply Classical Collection, Vol. 3: Festive
The Smart Baby's Guide to Classical [Box Set]	2008
The Sounds of Pachelbel Canon & Sea of Tranquility	2005
The St. Petersburg Style Brass Quintet
The Sugo Collection, Vol. 1
The Sugo Holiday Collection, Vol. 1	1994
The Ultimate Bride Guide
The Ultimate Classical Wedding	2005
The Ultimate Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe	2007
The Ultimate Most Relaxing Classics for Kids in the Universe	2007
The Ultimate Wedding Album	1997
The Ultimate Wedding Album	1995
The Ultimate Wedding Album [Polygram]	1995
The Very Best of Adagio
The Very Best of Classical Music	2000
The Very Best of James Galway	2002
The Very Best of Popular Classics	1994
The Very Best of Relaxing Classics	2003
The Wedding Album	2001
The Wedding Favorites You Love	2005
The World's Greatest Composers [Collector's Edition Music Tin]	2007
The World's Greatest Composers, Vol. 1 [Box Set]	2008
This Is K2HD Sound!	2007
This is Classical	2006
Top 20 Greatest Classics	2000
Total Chill-Out	2003
Total Classics
Trumpet Evergreens	1990
Ultimate Baroque [Box Set]	2006
Ultimate Classics [Box Set]	2006
Ultimate Driving Collection: Classical Gas	1998
Ultimate Guitar Collection [St. Clair]	2005
University of North Texas College of Music 1997 Sampler	1998
Velvet Dreams	1992
Virtuoso [Bonus Tracks]	2007
Vivaldi, Pachelbel & Beethoven	2000
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Pachelbel: Canon; Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3
Wedding & Romantic Favorites You Love	2006
Wedding Bouquet	1997
Wedding Classics	2006
Wedding Classics [Precious Memories]	2007
Wedding Essentials	2003
Wedding Essentials	2006
Welcome Sun	2000
With This Ring	2004

Albums with Excerpt Performances of the Work

Title	Date
Baby Box	2001
Baby Concerts Deluxe Gift Set: Prenatal and Newborn, Infant, Crawl [4 CD]	2005
Baby's Classical Lullaby Box	2005
Baroque Music for Trumpets	1988
Classics for a New Age	2004
Greatest Hits: Baroque	1994
Guitar with Sounds of Nature: Time and Tide	2000
Pachelbel in Harmony with the Sea	1996
Pachelbel with Oceans	2000
Pachelbel's Greatest Hit: The Ultimate Canon	2003
Soothing Bubble Bath	2000
Wedding: The Essential Collection	2002