How many musicians do you need to play Canon in D?

I'm wondering because I wanted 1, two at the most, musicians to play this for my ceremony and I've heard from other brides it requires 3. Is this absolutely necessary, or just the best way.
Thanks!

Re: How many musicians do you need to play Canon in D?

Canon in D also known as Pachelbel Canon must use three musicians if you are using strings. It is a 3 part Canon (three different parts were written by Pachelbel) .
If you are using Harp it can be done by harp alone
as well as by keyboard alone. It cannot be done with 2 strings or violin and flute - it will not sound right.
Hope this helps you.
STAN WIEST
A.STAN WIEST MUSIC
www.stanwiest.com
Vendor at Oheka Castle
Bridal on March 4

Re: How many musicians do you need to play Canon in D?

Greetings,

We performed Pachelbel's Canon in D with flute and guitar at a wedding at the Waldorf last Friday. The arrangement we played was written by my guitarist partner and friend Jimi Durso, an award winning jazz composer, from Pachelbel's original score.

There are also at least two commercially available arrangements of this piece for flute and guitar, and they too are lovely. The classical guitar part is moderately challenging, however, and I know from my own asking around that not all classical guitarists can get through it successfully.

And - my cell phone came with the basic melody as a ring tone option!

In general, beautiful, simple melodies can endure a wide variety of arrangements and 'reductions,' and this is certainly one of them.

Peace&music
--Karla.
For the National Boulevard Jazz Group (917) 365-0876

Re: How many musicians do you need to play Canon in D?

That is a good question!

The Pachelbel 'Canon in D' was written for string orchestra and it is in the style of a round similarly to 'Row Row Row Your Boat'.
In my experience it works beautifully from large to small (including solo vioiln) ensembles.
We have performed with all of the following combos:
Chamber Orchestra: 12-16 performers
String Octet: A double String Quartet
String Quintet: String Quartet & Bass or Piano
Quintet of Strings with Harp
String Quartet/Flute & 2 Strings
Harp & String Quartet
String Trio
Flute and Violin with my arrangement which includes the bass line in the vioiln part at times
Two Violins: same as for violin and flute
Cello and Violin: This works very well and we perform Canon in D with just violin and cello frequently.
Piano and Violin: works very well also
Harp & Violin: heavenly!
Flute and Harp
Guitar & Flute
Guitar & Violin: very pretty!
Solo Violin: I have performed this many times for wedding ceremonies, with my own arrangement which consists of 2 notes performed at the same time (these are called double stops!) for the introduction/1st four bars. I have only had glowing reviews of it.

Feel free to contact me via FM or otherwise with any more questions and have a ncie day.

With Best Wishes from,
Natalie Kriegler
Music Director & Solo Violinist of:
The Capriccio Ensemble
www.capriccioensemble.com
[email protected]
212-923-4807

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Re: How many musicians do you need to play Canon in D?

Thanks for the responses. You have given me a lot of options to think about that I hadn't even really considered before. Thanks!

Re: How many musicians do you need to play Canon in D?

I like this question too!

I think you got the right answers. It depends on the instruments. Solo instruments, like harp, piano, or organ, can play it alone. Otherwise, you'll want an ensemble for it to sound right.

Certain instruments, like cello, violin, or flute sound lonely alone, not just on the Pachelbel but playing any music. With those, a trio is probably best, unless you pair them with a solo instrument.

Re: How many musicians do you need to play Canon in D?

Hello:

I am happy to provide you with specific information on your question and would like
to clarify/further comment on the last vendor's comments:
A Solo Violinist never sounds 'lonely' on the Pachelbel 'Canon in D'!
This is however true of a Solo Cello.
I would not recommend the cello as it is not a bright enough sound and the
actual melody itself of 'Canon in D' was written for VIOLINS.
Taking it from a scholarly/'musicianly' perspective (something that I do not feel is of essence to brides-to-be) I concur to some degree with the last poster that it sounds much more wonderous when performed by 2 or more musicians.
However, it is heard at it's best when performed by VIOLINS.
I have heard 'Canon in D' performed by Solo Harp (our company also provides great harpists) and although soothing and pretty it has a haunting quality to it and lacks the brilliance, warmth, charm combined with the also heartfelt and deep quality of an excellent
Solo Violin performance.
Solo Harp is generally more costly than reserving one (or even 2) violinist's!
It is well known that the Violin is the closest instrument to the human voice.
Lonely does not describe the sound of any
of our critically acclaimed and exceptional quality Violinists.

Have a great weekend and good luck and best wishes with your search for beautiful and affordable ceremony music
Natalie Kriegler
The Capriccio Ensemble