Canon in D is considered the most famous work by German Baroque composer and belongs to chamber music compositions that are now popular during wedding ceremonies. The music work is quite unusual. Despite the fact it was composed in the second half of the seventeenth century, it was forgotten and recovered only at the end of the twentieth century (Hoffer 104).
Since then, more than a hundred versions of this musical piece have been presented. Cannon in D combines two completely different techniques in composing. It is based on a ground bass consisting of eight notes of equal length, there are twenty-seven melodic variations performed over the ground bass. They occur in three sections, one following each beat in precise imitation (Hoffer 104). Originally, the piece is performed for one continuo and three violins. However, the composition is played by continuo and a string orchestra.
Although the piece has many melodic variations, it is based on an 8-measure pattern that repeats throughout the entire composition. This pattern is an ostinato that contributes to the hypnotic feature of the music piece. At the very beginning, the music starts with andante moderate, when three violins play eight beats interchangeably.