Canon for Christmas

Description

Violin 1, Violin 2, Violin 3, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, Piano — Each year I try to find new and interesting ways to write arrangements that can be used for holiday concerts. Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D has long been one of the most popular “classical” pieces and has already been associated with Christmas through various settings of the piece. I endeavored this year to arrange the canon by combining it with popular Christmas carols as part of the fabric of the piece. Carols such as Hark, the Herald Angels Sing and The First Noel fit nicely with the harmonic progression of Pachelbel’s canon, and this approach became the genesis of the arrangement.However, I took this one step further by composing different versions of the piece. This setting works with string orchestra alone. There is also a band version that works alone, along with another arrangement allowing for the inclusion of a choir with the string or band versions (published by Carl Fischer Music, catalog number CM9401). The string version is one half-step lower than the band and choral versions, but the choral should work fine in the string key as well.It has been my pleasure to have the opportunity to write this piece.xa0 I hope you and your students enjoy it and find it useful for your program.—LARRY CLARKLakeland, FL 2017 Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D has long been one of the most popular classical pieces. In this arrangement, the Canon is combined with popular Christmas carols, such as "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" and "The First Noel," whose melodies fit nicely over the harmonic progression of Pachelbel's famous canon. This arrangement will work nicely with strings alone or with the optional choir (CM9401).

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