Pachelbel’s Canon: A Parallel Parody August 24, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Humor, Music & Dance.trackback
A cello player in his youth, Rob Paravonian, now a comedian and musician, rants about Pachelbel’s Canon in D with passion, enthusiasm, and guitar accompaniment.
In this clip, recorded live at Penn State, Paravonian chastises Pachelbel (“that one hit wonder”) for writing the cello part as he did, allotting the beautiful instrument only 8 notes to repeat throughout the piece.
How many times does the cello repeat the same 8 notes? (Answer below)
Enjoy!
Answer: 54. Rob counted.
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Spirit Lights The Way 
OK Very entertaining. Now someone has got to do the same type of things with the Blues Chords. I, V, I, !V, V, I, I think they are. Unless these are original to the Blues, but I wonder. Also in one of Rik’s post there was the interesting chord sequence I, V, IV, I, which could be the chord structure for a whole new roster of songs. Hey! Time to start composing those New Age, Punk Rock, Blues numbers!!!! We don’t know, it seems, when we’re singing the same song over and over again. That’s life! grin grin.
Not sure all the songs he sings in his Pachelbel Parallel Parody use the same chord sequence as the Canon in D, but it’s amusing to think that we’ve been recycling the same classics for 300 years.
Toooo funny 😀
Always good to start (or end) the day with a smile. : )
You think being a cellist was bad… you should have tried being the guy who played the flute. Worst part, I was pretty good.
True. But flutes can be hidden on the way to the bus stop, and they don’t impede your speed when you’re running for safety. : )
Imagine lugging a cello while being chased by bullies . . .
“I’ll see you in Hell, Pachibel!” Excellent.
I’d love to find more of this guy’s routine ~ smooth comedic flow and the guitar adds some “high notes” to the delivery.
The Canon in D is, in fact, an incredibly popular piece. Oddly enough, many people do not know what it is called. Radio stations that play Classical and Light Classical music have to bring on extra people for their switchboards whenever the Canon is scheduled to play because the stations get inundated with calls. No kidding.
Still, this guy was pretty funny, and I’ll bet even funnier to those who recognized all of the songs he tied in. I’m betting I only got about half of them.
I love Pachelbel’s Canon in D. Actually, that’s what I was looking for on youtube when I found this and decided to save the Canon in D for another day.
I recognized most of the songs in Pachelbel’s Parallel Parody. I suspect Rob “stretched” his thesis a bit for comedic effect.
For example, “No Woman, No Cry” (to my ear) doesn’t rely on the same chord sequence as the Canon in D. Its inclusion, as a surprise element, made me laugh.
Glad you enjoyed.
That video was so awesome I had to pass it along, my eyes were watering from laughing.
I couldn’t stop grinning as I watched it on youtube last night. His rant made me SMILE! : D
Glad you’re spreading the JOY.
thanks!
Thought you might enjoy. 😀
Well – nice version (except the fact that I’ve a little problem to understand his fast speech correctly ’cause I’m german).
Thank you for this – and you’re welcome to have a look at my introduction of Trace Bundy with exactly this part of music.
Good for you if you caught much of his quick wit ~ if the roles were reversed and he spoke that fast (or even slower) in German, it would go right over my head. 🙂
I saw a link to Trace Bundy this morning on Fritz’s site. I’ll check it out.
After hearing the Canon too many times during the 1990 Christmas season, I came up to this song (to the tune of the Canon, of course):
Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.
Oh no, not aga-ain.
The-ere goes Pachelbel’s Ca-anon.
It seems that ev’ry Christmas season
The Canon’s played beyond all reason.
Once or twice is fine for me,
Why must it go on endlessly?
Oh no, not a aga-ain.
The-ere go Pachelbel’s Ca-anon.
If Pachelbel were here toda-ay
He’d be the first one to sa-ay,
Put avay zat Canon dear,
Don’t play it for another year.
Oh swell, oh swell.
They’re playing something other than Pachelbel.
Is it something I can handle?
Perhaps by Bach or maybe Handel?
How ’bout a Carol sung Monks?
OH NO! It’s Alvin and the Chipmunks!,
W.D.
billsmail44@yahoo.com
Haha! Well done.