emaycee Presents: A Liberal in the Motor City

Thursday, February 12, 2026

Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. DLXXVIII--Pachelbel: Canon in D

[Imagine you're listening to Beethoven's Fifth...] Bum, bum, bum, bum, Bum, bum, bum, bum...I'm (only six days?) late again....

My introduction to this week's tune was way back in the day when I was managing my first Camelot Music store in Decatur, Illinois. There was some sort of Classical Music compilation (couldn't begin to remember the name or music company that made it) that we were encouraged to play and the piece was on it. Over time it grew on me--it remains the only Classical Music piece that I play regularly, though if I'd had more time through the years, I'm sure there would have been quite a few more....

Johann Pachelbel was born in Nuremberg, Germany in 1653 (thus making him--and the piece he wrote--by far and away the oldest I've written about on Friday Night Jukebox), and showed an early gift for studies and music. He actually had a full and varied career both as an organist and in writing numerous Classical pieces in numerous styles. Over the centuries his music went largely forgotten, until the Jean-Francois Paillard chamber orchestra did a recording of his Canon in D in 1968 and it became, for a classical tune, quite the hit. It's been featured in numerous films (most notably Best Picture winner Ordinary People) and television programs, as well as countless weddings and funerals. Pachelbel passed away in 1706, so he did not live to see the ubiquity of his piece--unfortunately (or not--he's been dead for over three hundred years, so I doubt he cares), not much else of the dozens of pieces he wrote over the course of his lifetime have attracted much of an audience in light of the success of Canon in D. Still to have one piece still popular after three hundred years must be at least a taste of immortality.

Fun Fact: After eighteen years of running a music store, I have a working--albeit small--knowledge of Classical music. But after doing my half-assed research this week, I realized how truly small it was. Of the dozens of composers mentioned in Pachelbel's Wikipedia bio, I knew one--Johann Sebastian Bach. So, if you're wondering where your musical heroes will be three hundred years from now, my guess would be largely forgotten.

Since the phonograph would not be invented until roughly 170 years after his death, there was neither a single nor an album released of Canon in D. However, the sheer number of Classical artists who have recorded it since its 1968 rediscovery has more than made up for it....

I'm not about to embarrass myself trying to write about a Classical piece (I'll just say it's an absolutely lovely piece featuring violins and a cello). However, a couple of points: First, if you listen to it below, be prepared to say "Hey, I know that piece" (or some variant thereof). As I was playing it before writing this post my partner asked what it was because she'd heard it somewhere before. Second, the fact that it's played at both weddings (beginnings) and funerals (endings) probably tells you all you need to know about its greatness.

Lyric Sheet: None--it's an instrumental!

Enjoy:

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Peace,

emaycee

emaycee Presents: A Liberal in the Motor City

Friday, February 13, 2026

The daily Epstein

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A disgrace to the American people

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Should have asked if he felt comfortable having Lutnick babysit his kids

I see disbarment in her future...

Thursday, February 12, 2026

Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. DLXXVIII--Pachelbel: Canon in D

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