Canon

“Pachelbel’s Canon” is the name commonly given to a canon by the German Baroque composer Johann Pachelbel called “Canon for 3 violins and basso continuo”. It is his most famous composition. It was originally written in the key of D major, but this arrangement has been especially adapted for the more saxophone friendly key of concert Eb major.

Like most other works by Pachelbel and other pre-1700 composers, the Canon remained forgotten for centuries and was rediscovered only in the 20th century. Several decades after it was first published in 1919 the piece became extremely popular. The piece was particularly prevalent in the pop charts of the 1990s, being sampled and appropriated in numerous commercial hits such as Pet Shop Boys cover of “Go West”, Coolio’s “C U When U Get There” and Green Day’s “Basket Case”. It is frequently played at weddings and included on classical music compilations, along with other famous Baroque pieces such as “Air on the G String”. Although a true canon at the unison in three parts, it also has elements of a chaconne.

The E-Edition PDF bundle comes with the following parts:

Standard parts
Clarinet in Bb 1
Clarinet in Bb 2
Clarinet in Bb 3
Clarinet in Bb 4
Clarinet in Bb 5
Clarinet in Bb 6 (alternative to Alto Clarinet in Eb)
Bass Clarinet in Bb (alternative to ContraAlto Clarinet in Eb)

Alternative & optional parts
Clarinet in Eb (optional)
Alto Clarinet in Eb (alternative to Clarinet in Bb 6)
ContraAlto Clarinet in Eb (alternative to Bass Clarinet in Bb or Contrabass Clarinet in Bb)
Contrabass Clarinet in Bb (optional & alternative to ContraAlto Clarinet in Eb)