Sampling In The Music Industry Essay Example

Music is a way for one to express themselves. Everyone has their individual preference regarding what type of music they like, which is why nowadays we are able to enjoy over 1,000 genres of music. However, artists sometimes go through the process of sampling music from older or previous musicians, artists, and composers. This is the process where one reuses a portion or sample of the melody, lyrics, rhythm, and much more from another artist’s recording. One example is the song Memories by Maroon 5 and Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major, in which the pop band, Maroon 5, samples the melody from the classical piece, the Canon in D Major by Johann Pachelbel composed during the Baroque Era. I chose these pieces because I personally have played Canon in D Major on the piano, and I really enjoyed the melody of it. When I was researching which piece I should do this final paper on, I saw the option of Memories by Maroon 5. Right when I heard it, I was immediately reminded of Canon in D Major. The melodies were almost identical and sounded so similar. It amazes me how something from such a long time ago is still reused in the present music industry. Pachelbel’s Canon was composed in 1680, while Memories by Maroon 5 was released in 2019.

Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major has gained much popularity throughout the years and is still considered one of the best-known pieces of classical music ever written. This piece was written for three violins and basso continuo, consisting of a bass line and a chord progression, which acts to provide the harmonic structure of the music. Canon in D Major was written around 1680 by a German composer named Johann Pachelbel. The purpose of the composition is still unknown, however, it has been said that it was written for Johann Christoph Bach’s wedding, which is probably why it has become a popular wedding song used nowadays. Canons are a type of music where the initial melody is repeated or imitated at specific intervals throughout the piece and ground bass is when the same musical melody repeats in the same pitch. In Pachelbel’s Canon, techniques of both canon and ground bass are used. The same melody enters each bar after two bars of the previous violin and is repeated 28 times in total. The ground bass, usually performed using a cello, harpsichord, or organ, starts off the piece, then gradually the other melodies are added in, in the same amount of bars and intervals, which is two. Canon in D Major is a polyphonic piece, in which several voices play the same music and melody (the three violins) and are independent from each other (the ground bass). The gradual stack of all the instruments allows the harmony to sound fuller. Even though the melody is repeated throughout the piece, it doesn’t sound monotonous. Instead, it sounds pleasant and is enjoyable to the ear. Since Pachelbel’s canon is written using the D key, the tonic key is D as well. The time signature/rhythm is in the 4/4 form, meaning that there is a beat to it and the tempo of the piece is allegro, or very fast-paced. While some might say Canon in D Major has a bright and happy melody, other people might believe that it has a rather mellow and calm melody. Regardless of the different interpretations of the piece, it is, without a doubt, a beautiful masterpiece.

Memories is a single by Maroon 5, an American band, from their album called “Jordi”. This song was released on September 20, 2019 and is classified in the genre of reggae pop. The song was written by Maroon 5's lead singer, Adam Levine, and others including, Stefan Johnson, Jordan Johnson, Michael Pollack, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Jon Bellion, and Vincent Ford. The song was produced by Levine and his production team, The Monsters and Strangerz. Memories has a homophonic texture, meaning that there is one melody with chords and an accompaniment that supports it. Throughout the song, the melody is sung by Levine and accompanied by the guitar, which supports his vocals. It has a structure beginning with a chorus and ending with an outro. Although the beat and melody of the song sound happy and sweet, there is a deeper meaning behind the song. Adam Levine has said, “This song is for anyone who has ever experienced loss,” therefore a lot of us can emotionally relate to the lyrics. Memories is based on the loss of the band’s manager, Jordan Feldstein, someone who was very dear to the band. After hearing the base of this song, Maroon 5 decided to use it to dedicate it to not only their manager but also to others who are experiencing the same emotions after losing someone dear to them. There isn’t an official statement as to why Maroon 5 decided to use the melody from the Canon in D Major and incorporate it into their song, but for a fact, many musicians have already been sampling or reworking compositions of great composers, one which includes Johann Pachelbel. Canon in D has a simple chord progression loved by many, which adds one reason as to why it was reused by Maroon 5 and many other artists. It uses a harmonic implication of the ground bass from Pachelbel's canon, which is I-V-vi-iii-IV-I-IV-V. The most plausible reason for using the melody of Canon in D Major in Memories is because it went with the vibe that the writers of the song were going for. Canon in D has a very majestic and soothing-like melody that gives off a nostalgic feeling, which goes perfectly with the lyrics and the purpose of the song— recalling the important and precious memories of your loved ones. Maroon 5 then sampled it and harmonized it by adding their own lyrics and style to the song. The song itself does sound slightly different from the original Canon by D Major because it is set in another key, which is B major. Another obvious difference between Canon by D major and Memories is that they fall into different genres. Memories is classified as pop music, while Canon by D Major is classified as a canon and Baroque era chamber music. The single instrument used in Memories is a guitar, while the instruments used in Pachelbel’s Canon are three violins and basso continuo. The song is also slowed down and has a different beat, compared to the canon, which fits in better with the meaning behind the sad song. Lastly, both Pachelbel’s Canon and Maroon 5’s Memories portrays multiple emotions, depending on one’s perspective. Happy, nostalgic, sadness, etc, can all be felt from both pieces, making them versatile.

Pachelbel’s Canon is not only used in the song Memories, but also in many other songs. It is a famous piece, with a beautiful melody that everyone likes to use. For example, Last Goodbye by Akdong Musician, produced in 2017, uses the Canon in D Major at the beginning of their song. It starts off using a piano, that riffs off the melody of the canon but quickly shifts into their own unique song and melody. This shift is very smooth, and their voices complement each other well as they sing in unison and with emotion throughout. Last Goodbye is unlike Memories, which sampled most of the Canon in D Major, as it only took one part of the piece to be placed at the beginning of their song. Another example is C U When U Get There by Coolio, released in 1997, where the melody of the canon is heard very clearly and goes along well with the beat. The beat played in the background with the canon adds additional support to this single, which shows how Coolio made use of the melody of Pachelbel’s Canon in a unique way. Graduation (Friends Forever) by Vitamin C, released in 1999, is yet another song that utilizes the melody from Canon in D Major. However, in this song, the key is changed to C and is used in both the chorus and verse. Thus, these examples show that Pachelbel's Canon is well-known in the music industry. It has an enjoyable melody, which is why many sampled it.

Overall, this final paper was very interesting to do. I was able to learn a lot more about Canon in D Major and how it is a famous masterpiece that has been sampled into so many modern songs we know nowadays. After listening to Pachelbel’s Canon multiple times for its different musical elements, I have grown my love for it. The melody of the piece is honestly so beautiful and calming to listen to. It allows me to put my worries behind me and get immersed into it without having to think about anything. I would prefer listening to Canon in D Major, rather than Memories because I felt a connection and more emotions expressed from it. In addition, the canon didn’t have lyrics, because there was no need for them due to it portraying so many feelings and emotions with just the melody itself. It comes to show how impactful this classical piece is. This final paper allowed me to better understand the history and musical elements of the Canon in D Major, and how it was sampled or reused into many other songs, and even movies. Canon in D Major is truly a masterpiece and will continue to be one in the next coming centuries.