How Canon in D Major became the wedding song

How an obscure piece of baroque music became the traditional tune to walk down the aisle to.

"It's the perfect piece of music for however long a procession takes," says Harvard professor Suzannah Clark.

May 17, 2019 – 11.55pm

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As wedding traditions evolve, it becomes increasingly common to walk down the aisle to sappy, chart-toppers by Ed Sheeran or wistful acoustic covers of classic rock hits. But Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D Major, a composition that shares elements of Row, Row, Row Your Boat, remains a perennial.

It was never intended to be.