I dont remember what the composer's name is, but I am trying to play this very famous piece and I am getting confused by the notes that seem to have two notes side-by-side, not as an eighth note accompanying a quarter note or what have you, but just touching each other, one a half note and the other a quarter, maybe, for example.
I am not sure if I have to hit the key twice, or if I am supposed to just simply sustain the note for half measure, not too sure, but I dont have a recording of that music anywhere to study.

This is a very great melody, very austere, very sincere and beautiful. played at weddings alot, i like how it builds upon itself more and more and very continuous. i hope to play this well for someone's wedding maybe. that would be cool. i thought initially this would be composed by Bach, but was surprised it was not.

The composer is Pachabel.

As for the notes, I'm pretty sure you just hold them rather than play them twice. But someone with more knowledge than me should be able to point out why it is written like that.

This is the only free version I found of Pachelbels Canon:

http://www.mfiles.co.uk/scores/pachelbels-canon-arranged.pdf

It is difficult to read, but is it the same version that you ask about ?

Ragnhild

Looking at the version Ragnhild posted, check out ms 29 in the LH - is that what you're talking about? If so, then you don't strike the note twice, you simply play and hold the half-note. This is notated to indicate what each "voice" is doing - even though the voices run into each other on the keyboard. Think of this as being written for a string quartet or SATB - each voice may share a note from a different voice and each voice is free to hold it for as long as is necessary. On a piano, different voices may share a note, but it gets a little more sticky.

yes, thank you all. that was exactly what i was referring to. so basically the notation is to complement a duet if you are doing the piece with another instrument is that what you mean?

Not really. Again, think of this as a string quartet. In ms 29, the cello would hold a half-note D while the viola would play that same D, but as an eighth note. With two instruments, this is not a problem - each can play their respective note.

However, on a piano this is not technically possible - you cannot hold the half-note D and also strike an eighth note. But even though it is not technically possible to play this on a piano, it is correct to write it this way. It is written this way to indicate the musical idea behind it - that the bass voice has a half-note while the tenor voice has an eighth-note. It is the pianist's job to play it and try to evoke that musical idea, even though the piano is not capable of producing that exact musical idea. With proper phrasing and dynamics, it is possible for the pianist to bring this out so that the tenor "voice" will sound correct - even though the eighth note is not played. It can be "implied" by proper use of dynamics and shading.

ok gotcha i get it now!