Canons Save Trees!

August 9, 2011 5:09 AM

Pachelbel's Canon for 4 music boxes
posted by DU (24 comments total)

That is so wonderfully sweet. Thanks!
posted by Ahab at 5:13 AM on August 9, 2011

Looks like it might be easier to just learn the instruments.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 5:25 AM on August 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

Pfft. That's nothing! I have ONE music box that plays all four parts, and doesn't even need me to spin it like that.
posted by crunchland at 5:54 AM on August 9, 2011

Awwwww. Didn't realize it was only rediscovered in the early 20th century.
posted by Peach at 5:55 AM on August 9, 2011

Much more interesting and lovely than I expected. I'm glad I clicked through!
posted by Bovine Love at 5:57 AM on August 9, 2011

I had a friend at math camp who was a cello player. Oh how she hated hated hated the Canon. Probably even more than this guy.
posted by kmz at 6:00 AM on August 9, 2011 [3 favorites]

Looks like it might be easier to just learn the instruments.

For certain goal definitions of "it".
posted by DU at 6:07 AM on August 9, 2011

But it was lost and forgotten for over 200 years afterward! (1:23)

And then, sadly, rediscovered.
posted by The Bellman at 6:25 AM on August 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

O, Pachelbel, Pachelbel!
I hope you rot in hell!
posted by daniel_charms at 6:30 AM on August 9, 2011

(this was in response to / in agreement with what kmz posted)
posted by daniel_charms at 6:31 AM on August 9, 2011

Heh, you can turn that into a Fremen chant: Pachelbel, Pachelbel, Pachelbel! A million deaths were not enough for Pachelbel!
posted by kmz at 7:01 AM on August 9, 2011

I was totally prepared to hate this, but man that was neat. There was an almost Mr. Rogers' explaining how music boxes work feel to it.
posted by khaibit at 7:13 AM on August 9, 2011

Vi Hart previously
posted by carsonb at 7:37 AM on August 9, 2011

In case nobody noticed, this piece was brought to us by the lovely Vi Hart, whose work has appeared previously on Metafilter.
posted by Wulfhere at 7:37 AM on August 9, 2011

Pachebel's Canon is to classical musicians what "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" is in the traditional singing world, or what "I Know You Are Near" is to Catholic hymns. A piece that's moved from being the "cool new thing" to being the "safe", crowd-pleasing choice. So those who are sick of it get no respite.

But there can be a defense against it! There's a sign on the back wall of Preservation Hall in New Orleans that reads:
Requests $2
Standards $5
Saints $10

There's also apparently a pub in Montreal that has banned the singing of "Danny Boy". Perhaps wedding musicians need to place a premium cost on the playing of the Canon at weddings, to encourage some variety?
posted by LN at 8:13 AM on August 9, 2011

Heh, you can turn that into a Fremen chant: Pachelbel, Pachelbel, Pachelbel! A million deaths were not enough for Pachelbel!

Moar liek Suck Doctor, amirite.
posted by adamdschneider at 8:41 AM on August 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

My local needs to ban 22-year-old cardigan-wearing white dudes with acoustic guitars from playing "Wonderwall".
posted by Zozo at 8:41 AM on August 9, 2011

In high school concert band, the long stretches of tacet for some parts (i.e. you don't play) and repetitive music would pull us into a fugue state. I showed my band mates how to count in binary so the fingers of one hand could count to 32 measures. I suppose these days kids just play Angry Birds while waiting.
posted by kurumi at 8:50 AM on August 9, 2011

repetitive music would pull us into a fugue state

ISWYDT

To the haters: Watch the video. It isn't about the content, it's about the presentation.
posted by DU at 8:55 AM on August 9, 2011

Nobody's hatin' on the video! (Well, maybe one person was.)
posted by kmz at 8:57 AM on August 9, 2011

That was delightful. Douglas Hofstadter would undoubtedly approve.
posted by Quietgal at 9:31 AM on August 9, 2011

Douglas Hofstadter, yeah. It would be good to see what they could do with the Crab Canon
posted by iotic at 10:14 AM on August 9, 2011

I was on my phone for the last post—so I couldn't do this easily—but last week I compiled a little music box jam on youtube:

Pea Hix - Music Box Jam

Haddaway - What is Love?

Elfen Lied - Lilium

Keyboard Cat

Harry Potter - Hedwig's Theme

Portal - Still Alive

- Tetris
- Pokemon
- Legend of Zelda - Kakariko Village
                         - Saria's Song
                         - Song of Storms

Pandora Hearts - Lacie

The Office

Carol of the Bells

and then
Vi Hart - Möbius Music Box (incredibly cool!)
and the link in this post.
posted by carsonb at 10:32 AM on August 9, 2011 [5 favorites]

Must be just me, but as I watched that all I could think of was crank! crank! CRANK! (but not too fast)
posted by kinnakeet at 11:53 AM on August 9, 2011