This is commonly used at weddings as part of bridal processions. Some purists believe it is inferior to "Here Comes The Bride," which is the traditional choice, but the song has grown more popular and accepted over the years.
The song begins with an 8-note bass line, with more instruments joining in every four bars as the bass repeats (a "canon" is music that repeats). This makes the song great for weddings, since it can be timed to the length of the procession. Usually, the cello player will keep an eye on the procession and signal to stop playing when the bride reaches the altar.
Pachelbel is a German composer born in 1653. He wrote a lot of chuch music.
It is believed that Pachelbel wrote this for 3 violins and a basso continuo. The German title is "Kanon Und Gigue In D-Dur."
This was featured in the 1980 movie Ordinary People.
