Is Streets Of London truly Pachelbels Canon???

Subject: RE: Is Streets Of London truly Pachelbels Canon???
From: The Mole Catcher's Apprentice (inactive)
Date: 08 Mar 08 - 02:06 PM

"So this bloke Pachelbel is going round singing a song about his photocopier, and he's nicked Ralph's song."

and don't forget nicking tunes from John Tams and Roger Watson..

Charlotte (keeping an eye open for this Pachabel person)

Subject: RE: Is Streets Of London truly Pachelbels Canon???
From: Stringsinger
Date: 08 Mar 08 - 02:15 PM

Hi Art,

I believe that there are many tunes that follow this progression. "One Tin Soldier"
"Streets of London", even "Waltzing Mathilda" can be made to work. You could re-work
the Beatles' "Let It Be". "Here's a Song for All the Good People". Even the tune "The Black Flies" could be squeezed into this progression. The progression will work for any
dance tune (ala contra) that backs up a fiddler using just a major chord substitution.

Richard Dyer-Bennett used the progression for an into to "The Jolly Rogues of Lynn".
A lot of pop songs employ this progression-device as they used to for the ubiquitous
I, vi minor, ii minor and V7.

But what the heck, you knew all this anyhow.

Frank

Subject: RE: Is Streets Of London truly Pachelbels Canon???
From: Big Mick
Date: 09 Mar 08 - 05:43 PM

Yeah Frank, but until guys like you and Art put it to the post, it isn't gospel.........***chuckle**. Which is just my way of saying thanks to folks like you, Art, Sandy and Caroline, Miss Jean Ritchie, Mark Ross, Dan Milner, and so many others, for sharing your incredible knowledge with us. Every so often it just needs to be said that you honor us with your presence.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Is Streets Of London truly Pachelbels Canon???
From: Art Thieme
Date: 09 Mar 08 - 06:58 PM

I never knew than Taco Bell had a cannon! Overkill if you ask me.

Frank,
Without really thinking about it, there probably are 2 or 3 songs in my own repertory lurking with the same progression. Thanks all for your good input. And no offense intended to Ralph McTell. That's for sure.

Art

Subject: RE: Is Streets Of London truly Pachelbels Canon???
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Mar 08 - 07:25 AM

Re "Boulevards of Belper" - sorry I was in error, this traditional tune dates from around 1971 not 1671.

There is still a club in Belper me duck - must admit I've never been there. Website:

http://www.geocities.com/[e-mail]/index.html

Subject: RE: Is Streets Of London truly Pachelbels Canon???
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 10 Mar 08 - 07:44 AM

there are no down and outs in Belper. its quite posh. they even have a delicatessen nowadays selling french loaves and stuff like that.

Subject: RE: Is Streets Of London truly Pachelbels Canon???
From: GUEST,Boo
Date: 13 Nov 15 - 10:56 AM

If the chord sequences don't sound identical you probably need to work on your musical ear a bit!

Subject: RE: Is Streets Of London truly Pachelbels Canon???
From: Stanron
Date: 13 Nov 15 - 01:55 PM

One of the reasons the chord sequence is successful and used so often in different ways is that it is based on a formula. Fifths and seconds.

C to G is a fifth, G to Am is a second, Am to Em is a fifth and Em to F is a second. F to C is a fifth and C to D is a second. After that the pattern breaks to achieve resolution.

The human ear is so attuned to music that this kind of pattern is recognised even though most people could not define the pattern. Another example of a dual interval pattern is Hotel California. That is fifths and thirds.

Am to E is a fifth, E to G is a third, G to D is a fifth and D to F is a third, and so on until the pattern breaks for resolution (usually in bar eight).

The use of patterns in chords can be reflected in melody. Pachelbel is better at this than McTell but McTell was definitely better with words.

With a bit of experimentation you can make up your own chord sequences using interval patterns, there's no guarantee they will be original.

Subject: RE: Is Streets Of London truly Pachelbels Canon???
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Mar 17 - 12:13 PM

Pachelbel:

I - V - vi - iii - IV - I - II(7) - V

Streets:

I - V - vi - iii - IV - I - IV - V


Almost identical - the 7th chord is different in Streets.

Subject: RE: Is Streets Of London truly Pachelbels Canon???
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Mar 17 - 12:15 PM

Oops - my last post - I have the two mixed up - the top progression with the funky II(7) chord is Streets ... sorry for the mix up.

Subject: RE: Is Streets Of London truly Pachelbels Canon???
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 26 Mar 17 - 02:52 PM

fancy that! all these years Ralph's been playing it wrong!

the scallywag!

Subject: RE: Is Streets Of London truly Pachelbels Canon???
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 26 Mar 17 - 07:16 PM

Funny how old threads re-surface! 'Twas me that suggested looking up the "Pachelbel's Rant" video on YouTube, which Becky did, back in 2008.
I also suggested trying Ivan Drever's "Long December Night" - just listen to the instrumental intro and interludes in this: remind you of anything? (2 of my favourite musicians, by the way, especially Duncan's fiddle playing!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dytj_JfG1Ug

Subject: RE: Is Streets Of London truly Pachelbels Canon???
From: Jack Campin
Date: 26 Mar 17 - 07:57 PM

This is rather addictive in a sick sort of way.

The Warped Canon Page

Subject: RE: Is Streets Of London truly Pachelbels Canon???
From: Bugsy
Date: 27 Mar 17 - 04:40 AM

"SIMILAR" that's the clue.

So is 'Meet Me On The Corner" Lindisfarne and "Farewell to the Gold" Paul Metzers.


CHeers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Is Streets Of London truly Pachelbels Canon???
From: Mr Red
Date: 27 Mar 17 - 04:47 AM

If you are going to get inspiration, osmosis and all that jazz, Pachelbel is a good tank to be immersed in. IMNSHO.
Chord progression? Is that not the flavour?

Any song writers/composers out there who haven't had inspiration after a recent visit to a Folk Club or session?

No? Really?
I don't believe you!

Subject: RE: Is Streets Of London truly Pachelbels Canon???
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 27 Mar 17 - 01:15 PM

No, I'm not knocking it! Love the original tune and it has been known for some of your folk musicians in Captain's Bar in Edinburgh to do their version of it, just improvising on the chord sequence - as was suggested further up the thread might have been Pachelbel's idea!

In answer to Mr Red, I used go to a songwriting workshop with an indie band musician: seems they DO start with chords first, (any sign of a predictable sequence and they'll throw in something totally obtuse!) then hang a tune on the words, then think what words they might to it. Complete reversal of my usual songwriting, where words come first, then tune, then what chords fit with tune!