An arrangement of the gorgeous organ composition by C. Franck for violin and piano.

Here is anaddition to your church or recital repertoire. The well-known Irish tune isideal for a set of variations on a theme in five parts. The prelude featuresthe tune in the tenor range on a solo stop. The imitation of the Irish flute isthe focal point of the lively first variation. The second variation is anadagio in the minor mode to create a darker contrast to the rest of the piece.The third variation is an andante with the theme in the pedal, making use ofthe hemiola. The fourth variation is a sprightly fugue to end in a rhythmicfinale.

JohannChristoph Pachelbel was a German baroque composer and organist. He was anacclaimed composer and organist during his lifetime, and was also regarded asan outstanding teacher. Today Pachelbel is considered to be one of the mostimportant organ composers of the middle Baroque: he made significantcontributions to the development of chorale prelude and fugue and brought theSouthern German organ tradition to its peak. During hislifetime, Pachelbel was best known as an organ composer. He wrote more than twohundred organ pieces, both liturgical and secular, and used most of the genresthat existed at the time. His other keyboard music includes harpsichord suitesand sets of variations. Pachelbel also composed numerous vocal works: arias,Magnificat settings, motets, sacred concertos, and chamber music. As acomposer, Pachelbel apparently was most interested in variation forms andassociated techniques. Variation techniques are in many of his organ worksespecially heard in the piece presented here, his Canon for which can be hearda full set of techniques. It is the only canon he wrote, yet is one of the mostpopular ones performed today. This quintetarrangement makes a great piece to play for church services, graduations andwedding processionals. It?s stately chordal progressions, chordal tonalitiesand variations have been especially popular with audiences around the world.