# Who wrote lyrics for Canon in D **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [October 18, 2006, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wrote-lyrics-for-canon-in-d/376958 "2006-10-18T16:54:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wrote-lyrics-for-canon-in-d/376958/1 "2006-10-18T16:54:30Z")
…and where can I find a recording or sheet music? In 1991 or so, I did this piece with a girls’ choir, and it was absolutely gorgeous, but my Google-fu is weak today. It was four or maybe even six part harmony, and some of the lyrics in my 15 year old memory go something like: In the silence of the world oh Lord we contemplate thy peace [something, something, something] O, Lord Our God Glory, Praise and Honor be always thine [yadda, yadda yadda] And the end was this exquisite arangements of alleluia’s in the various parts that are usually strings. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wrote-lyrics-for-canon-in-d/376958/2 "2006-10-18T17:32:53Z")
It looks like this might be it: [Alleluia to the Pachelbel Canon in D](http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?ean=718795600229&z=y), by Robert Gass. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wrote-lyrics-for-canon-in-d/376958/3 "2006-10-18T18:00:25Z")
Hmmm…thanks for looking, but no. The part that plays at that link has actual words to it in the version I’m looking for. The “Alleluias” are only at the end. Also, at the alleluia part, the voice lines aren’t in unison rythmically - the sopranos are doing the high string part with quick alleluias, there are a couple of middle lines doing different stuff, with altos doing fairly slow alleluias down at the bottom and everyone is sort of weaving notes around one another with this really neat descant on top, almost madrigal style. I’m sorry, I’m not describing it very well, and there must be hundreds of versions of this song, so I don’t hold much hope for finding that one particular arrangement. But you never know with Dopers, right? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wrote-lyrics-for-canon-in-d/376958/4 "2006-10-18T18:04:56Z")
[Wilf Carter, maybe (see the final paragraph of the article).](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilf_Carter) > [@wikipedia](#): > > Some credit the writing [[. . .]](http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/midi/jolly_old_st_nicholas.htm) to Wilf Carter, though it is generally credited as an anonymous work. No, really, check it out… ---
**Author:** ![nomanisan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nomanisan/32/10773_2.png) [@nomanisan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nomanisan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2022, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wrote-lyrics-for-canon-in-d/376958/5 "2022-04-16T23:50:21Z")
Here is the [backstory for the lyric, and the full lyric](https://davidwarinsolomons.bandcamp.com/track/pachelbel-canon-choral-version), if you are referring to the version sung at the beginning of the motion picture “Ordinary People” to the tune of Canon in D in 1980. > The choral arrangement of this famous canon was created by the Flemish-American church musician Noel Goemanne at the suggestion of a member of his choir and was subsequently taken up for performance in the 1980 film “Ordinary People”. … > > ### lyrics > > In the silence of our souls O Lord, > we contemplate Thy peace > Free from all the world’s desires > Free from fear and all anxiety > Oh Lord, Oh God, Wisdom joy and peace and love divine > Oh Lord, Oh God, Glory praise and honour be always thine > Oh dearest Lord come to us now > Have mercy on us, stay with us and protect us all > Oh Lord, our God, wisdom truth and love and peace and joy > Oh Lord our king, thy praises we will always sing > Alleluya ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2022, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wrote-lyrics-for-canon-in-d/376958/6 "2022-04-17T21:58:12Z")
Welcome, @nomanisan ! We’re always happy to see old questions answered, though @WhyNot hasn’t been seen around here in many years. But who knows, maybe your response will prompt her to come back? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wrote-lyrics-for-canon-in-d/376958/7 "2023-01-14T11:20:31Z")
Howdy! I don’t know if you’re around anymore, but if you are, thank you! I never did find the answer to this question, but you got it! (Facebook fed me a post about Cecil coming back to weekly writing so I decided to pop over and see what’s been happening. Hi, y’all!)