Pieces / Pachelbel
Canon and Gigue in D major · P. 37

Canon in D

Johann Pachelbel, c. 1680 · Andante · 25 keys · Easy

About the piece

Pachelbel wrote his canon for three violins over a bass line that repeats the same eight notes 28 times. It was forgotten for more than two centuries, published in 1919, and became famous after a 1968 recording by Jean-François Paillard.

You play the first violin’s entry, in long notes, then the start of the first running line. It is moved a tone lower, to C major, to fit the 17 keys.

Key
D major
Played in
C major, a tone lower
Time
4/4
Keys
25
Licence
Public domain

Canon in D letters

The whole passage, as letters to type. P is a black key; a dash holds the note a little longer.

; - L - K - J - H - G - H - J -
K - J - H - G - F - D - F - S -
A D G F D A D S A -
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