January 9th, 2009
Johann Pachelbel – Canon in D Major
Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706) was a German composer and music teacher whose work was enormously popular during his lifetime (and since) and brought the German fugue tradition to its peak. Pachelbel died when he was only 52, but the list of his works is endless. Pachelbel is best known for his Canon in D Major, the only canon he wrote. A canon is a musical piece where the melody is repeated after a given duration so that it is repeating but offset. A simple example (called a round) is Row, Row, Row Your Boat. The Canon in D Major became very popular in the 1970′s and was used as the theme for the movie Ordinary People in 1980.
That brings me to why Canon in D Major is the music I have chosen for this week. Beth’s English teacher gave her class a choice of books to read and one of the books on the list was Ordinary People which is the book Beth chose after I recommended it to her. This reminded me of the movie which was a truly amazing film and won the Oscar for Best Picture for 1980. For those who aren’t familiar with the story, it is about a family with two sons, one of whom has died in a boating accident. Timothy Hutton plays the surviving son and won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Mary Tyler Moore is fantastic as the mother who you hate and was nominated for Best Actress. Judd Hirsch was nominated for Best Supporting Actor as the psychiatrist treating Timothy Hutton’s character.
I can’t listen to the Canon without thinking of the film. If you haven’t seen the film you must. If you haven’t heard the Canon then the YouTube version is excellent. Does anyone else feel the same way about the film or the music?
Jen wrote,
It reminds me of our wedding, not the film. We had a string quartet instead of an organist and this song was a must. Thanks for posting it.
—Jen
Link | January 9th, 2009 at 9:35 am
mary c wrote,
We also had this as our wedding song. Coincidentally they were also playing this music in the NICU minutes after we were told the docs suspected Anna had DS. For a long time I hated the music as it made me think of that terrible moment (the diagnosis, not the wedding). It’s only the years since the diagnosis that I’ve come to think that the playing of the music in the NICU was a cosmic message–that everything was going to be ok.
And by the way, this is one of my favorite movies–and you really do hate Mary Tyler Moore (who thought that was possible?)
Link | January 9th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Tina wrote,
I’m in the club of the song reminding me of my wedding. You were there. Why doesn’t it remind you of my wedding too?
But I agree the movie was really excellent. I hope Beth enjoys the book.
Link | January 10th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Tom wrote,
Tina – you’re married?!!! When did that happen?
Link | January 10th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Tina wrote,
Oh Mr Smarty Pants! I have pictures. You were there. Your necktie played an important role. One of my favorite memories… LOL
Link | January 10th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Tom wrote,
I was going to scan the pictures and put them on Facebook but the monitor on the desk computer is broken.
Link | January 10th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Tom wrote,
I forgot about the necktie! I forgot that it was wrapped around the thigh of a beautiful woman!!!!
Link | January 10th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Tina wrote,
Aw…shucks. Keep that up.
The old thigh isn’t what it used to be though…
My ankles still look pretty good, though. My wrists too…
Yikes! Re-reading that doesn’t sound as I intended. Just saying that parts of me look better now than they did in 1984. Too bad those are the only parts.
That’s all. :p
More later.
Football reigns at the moment.
Link | January 10th, 2009 at 10:38 pm