Johann Pachelbel Canon in D

The Canon in D major (full German title: Kanon und Gigue in D-Dur für drei Violinen und Basso Continuo or Canon and Gigue in D major for three Violins with Bass Accompaniment) is the most famous piece of music by Johann Pachelbel. It was written in or around 1680, during the Baroque period, as a piece of chamber music for three violins and basso continuo, but has since been arranged for a wide variety of ensembles. Johann Pachelbel Canon in D major was originally paired with a gigue in the same key, although this composition is rarely performed or recorded today. Johann Pachelbel canon in D major was commonly played at weddings and is well known for its chord progression which has become one of the most used in popular music.

It is sometimes supposed that classical music is intrinsically timeless and is not subject to the caprices of fashion. Johann Pachelbel Canon in D major may be said to both support and refute this assertion. As tracked by mentions in The New York Times, Johann Pachelbel was all but unknown to United States audiences before the 1930s:
During the 1930s, Johann Pachelbel organ music, particularly the chorale prelude Vom Himmel hoch, da komm' ich her ("From Heaven Above to Earth I Come", German's most popular carol before Silent Night), began to be played regularly by church organists during the Christmas season, and performances of other works are occasionally mentioned, such as organ chorale variations, a motet and a Magnificat.

Johann Pachelbel Canon in D major was first mentioned on March 15, 1871, and the context, "a Bach fugue and a Pachelbel canon" suggests that the work was not familiar. However, by May 20, 1977, it was being referred to as "the famous Pachelbel canon in D major."
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