WDCE 90.1: UR Radio is the voice of independent radio in Richmond, VA and has been student-run and operated since 1960.
Students have used it as a launching pad for careers in radio or other mass communications, and also as an engaging extra-curricular activity. Community members and UR alumni also continue to play an important role in the station.
Editor’s note:Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
When wedding music is discussed, the song that comes to almost everyone’s mind is Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D. The simple baroque era piece is everywhere, from TV shows to playlists to lists of the best pieces of classical music of all time. But it’s eight bars of music 28 times, how is it so popular?
I’ll explain. Pachelbel and his musical career are not well-known. The original composition of Canon (and Gigue (yes, there is a second movement to this piece)) in D was most likely written around 1680, but not published until the early 1900s. The piece fell to the wayside, pushed out of the spotlight by composers like Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel (no malice towards these very fabulous composers, their music is beautiful as well).
In a New York Times article, the conductor and organist at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York, Kent Tritle, said the piece just became popular through that recording, just by happenstance. It was then featured in the Academy Award-winning film Ordinary People, which catapulted it to further stardom.
However, the thing that sealed the deal of Canon in D as the perfect wedding song was Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding in 1981, which used a baroque processional, shining a light on other baroque composers from long ago.
Canon in D is simple, at its core. And that’s what made people love it. Its use of four instruments and natural progression from simple, quiet notes to a swell of instruments gives an intimate feel to the piece.
It’s also simple, musicality-wise. This canon created what is known as the Pachelbel Progression, which is the same eight chords, typically in a major key, repeated over and over again, which are all built upon the same bass line. The bass line of this canon is an ostinato or a continually repeated musical phrase. In the case of Pachelbel’s canon, it’s the same eight notes all throughout the bass line. These chords are then seemingly played in a round-like way so each instrument plays a similar if not the same melody starting at different times, in this case, that’s the canon part of this piece.
The piece is also simple enough to arrange for any set of instruments, string quartet, organ, keyboard, etc., the only thing holding someone back is the occasion. It is also simple enough for a walk. In a traditional wedding, the bride walking down the aisle is nervous, thus having a steady four-count beat to keep her up and something to focus on makes it so much easier on her. It also makes it easy for her to take her time on her walk, there isn’t a set end to Canon in D, since it is a canon and has the same eight chords, it can just be played forever if needed.
So, in the end, there’s a reason Canon in D is the “wedding song.” It’s simple to play, never-ending, and just a good time. It might be overhyped, but it is near and dear to the hearts of many, including me. This was the first “real” piece of music I learned when I started playing the cello. My aunts were finally allowed to get married and they wanted me to play something for them. My cello teacher at the time pulled out a wrinkled copy of the bass line of Canon in D and let me use it. The notes were easy enough and something I could handle, and it sounded beautiful. Who knew eight notes thrown together would sound so right?
Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Eli (class of 2024) and features some relaxing ambient music.
Ambient
It can be important at times to check out, to calm the constant stimulation and sensory overload that is college life. When I am looking for some tranquility, I often casually listen to ambient, easy-listening music, letting my brain focus and unfocus on the song as it chooses. Here are some of my favorites.
Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Susanne (class of 2026) some songs for the shorter, colder days of autumn.
Autumn Anthems
As the days get shorter and the air grows colder, it’s always fun to listen to music that matches the ambience of our weather. This playlist features songs with a range of folk, indie, pop and acoustic roots that take inspiration from the natural world around us. Whether you’re cooking festive foods, hosting a game night with friends, or hiking in Virginia’s breathtaking mountains, this soothing yet upbeat playlist is sure to have you singing along and inspired to reconnect with the earth.
WDCE 90.1: UR Radio is the voice of independent radio in Richmond, VA and has been student-run and operated since 1960.
Students have used it as a launching pad for careers in radio or other mass communications, and also as an engaging extra-curricular activity. Community members and UR alumni also continue to play an important role in the station.
Editor’s note:Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
I love exploring different mediums of storage when it comes to art. I initially became interested in physical art forms because of film photography; as a musician, it was inevitable for me to stumble into the world of sound storage mediums. From VHS tapes to 8-track cartridges to cassette tapes to vinyl records, there were so many different forms of music over the years I did not know about. There seems to be controversy over what form sounds best, but we can respect all the different presentations!
LP stands for “Long Playing” due to the extended playing time (around 22 minutes per side) that resulted from the larger discs spinning at 33 ⅓ rpm. (As compared to EPs which are smaller and held about 10-15 minutes of material per side.) They are also referred to as vinyl records because of the material the physical discs are made of. These discs can transmit sound waves when placed on a turntable because the stylus placed on top of the disc moves through the small grooves along the record. As the stylus is reading, the tip of it vibrates and the microscopic bounces are transmitted along the bar. Ultimately, an electrical signal is generated and is played through the stereo speakers!
I appreciate the history of music storage forms, especially because of the wide availability we have for any song nowadays that significantly contributed to the relationship between the listeners and producers. Though I prefer the pros of digital music over analog with the technology we have today, the nostalgia of LP records is appealing as well. One of my fondest memories of growing up was listening to opera on the cassette tape player with my mother.
So, when I found out about a new addition to the music library — a portable record player — I had to recommend this LP to go with it!
Though you are welcome to play it on your turntable, and in addition to the record player that lives in one of our study rooms, the Music Library also has a portable vinyl player available for anyone to check out for a week at a time!
Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Xipeng (class of 2024) and features relaxing music for midnight enjoyment.
Midnight Serenade
A collection of songs perfect for late-night relaxation. Turn on the night light, and let the music guide you into a state of calm as you embrace the stillness of the midnight hour.
Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Yangyue (class of 2024) and features some night time listening.
Night
These are my favorite songs to play at night. Enjoy listening!
WDCE 90.1: UR Radio is the voice of independent radio in Richmond, VA and has been student-run and operated since 1960.
Students have used it as a launching pad for careers in radio or other mass communications, and also as an engaging extra-curricular activity. Community members and UR alumni also continue to play an important role in the station.
Editor’s note:Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
I remember my mom waking me up to go watch my first musical in the downtown of my city, much to my chagrin. I never showed an interest in musicals––really, ever––so spending the first few hours of my weekend attending a show about a movie I’d seen a billion times was never on the top of my bucket list.
Finding our seats in the dark and cramped theater after buying $8 bottles of water just added to my annoyance, especially after finding out that ushers would be watching vigilantly for phone users, so I couldn’t even resort to that. And then the show started. Immediately, I knew this was definitely NOT The Wizard of Oz I’d grown up watching. The dynamic expressions, the mercurial lighting, and the most handsome of musical notes filled every corner of my surroundings: I smiled, I relented.
The cast of Wicked, from the verdant “villain” of the story to the anthropomorphic bat-monkey-things that legitimately frightened me, were equal in energy to the score that is still stuck in my head. “Are musicals my new thing?” I thought to myself. Maybe not fully. Was I puerile to dismiss them in their entirety? Definitely.
So if you haven’t, I would highly recommend watching Wicked, it remains one of my favorite Saturday 12:10 pm’s ever; if you can’t attend a full show (they can be pretty popular), check out the score and imagine yourself on the indelible yellow brick road.
