Johann Pachelbel was born in 1653 in Nürnberg. He went to school at
Lorenz church and began his musical instruction under Schwemmer
and later at the Universities of Altdorf and Ratisbon. He moved to
Vienna in 1671 and became student and deputy organist to Kerrl at
the Imperial chapel. In 1677, he was organist in Eisenach for a year,
and the following year he moved to Erfurt. While in Erfurt he taught
Bach's older brother Johann Christian. His first wife and baby died in
the plague of 1683. In 1690, he became court organist at Stuttgart,
but fled in the face of French invasion in 1692.
Lorenz church and began his musical instruction under Schwemmer
and later at the Universities of Altdorf and Ratisbon. He moved to
Vienna in 1671 and became student and deputy organist to Kerrl at
the Imperial chapel. In 1677, he was organist in Eisenach for a year,
and the following year he moved to Erfurt. While in Erfurt he taught
Bach's older brother Johann Christian. His first wife and baby died in
the plague of 1683. In 1690, he became court organist at Stuttgart,
but fled in the face of French invasion in 1692.
Pachelbel's canon in D major that we hear played at weddings, funerals, on fired chicken ads and at
used car lots was written in or around 1680 and was among his lesser known works, all but unknown
to United States audiences before the 1930's.
used car lots was written in or around 1680 and was among his lesser known works, all but unknown
to United States audiences before the 1930's.
One of Pachelbel's son, Carl Theodorus Pachelbel, would later be known as Charles Theodore
Pachelbel. He emigrated to the British colonies in America, lived in Boston and Rhode Island before
spending the rest of his life in Charleston, South Carolina. He was a well known musician, teacher
and organ builder. His biography is interesting. When he died in September, 1750, among the
possessions left to his wife upon his death were a spinet piano, a clavichord, two "Negro Wenches"
and "Sundry books of Musick, paper,and Crow Quills."
Pachelbel. He emigrated to the British colonies in America, lived in Boston and Rhode Island before
spending the rest of his life in Charleston, South Carolina. He was a well known musician, teacher
and organ builder. His biography is interesting. When he died in September, 1750, among the
possessions left to his wife upon his death were a spinet piano, a clavichord, two "Negro Wenches"
and "Sundry books of Musick, paper,and Crow Quills."
Pachelbel was one of the great organist composers of his day. He wrote more than 200 organ pieces,
as well as harpsichord suites and numerous vocal works. Much of his liturgical organ music,
particularly the chorale preludes, is relatively simple and written for manuals only, with no pedal
required. This is partly due to the Lutheran practice of congregants singing the chorales. St.Sebald's
church was built in the 13th-century, and its organ, the one Pachelbel played, had been the world's
oldest, dating from 1440. Two of Pachelbel's children became musicians, one a painter and another
an instrument maker.
as well as harpsichord suites and numerous vocal works. Much of his liturgical organ music,
particularly the chorale preludes, is relatively simple and written for manuals only, with no pedal
required. This is partly due to the Lutheran practice of congregants singing the chorales. St.Sebald's
church was built in the 13th-century, and its organ, the one Pachelbel played, had been the world's
oldest, dating from 1440. Two of Pachelbel's children became musicians, one a painter and another
an instrument maker.
He took his final post in Nürnberg, where he remained until his death
in 1706. In Nürnberg, his second marriage produced seven children.
in 1706. In Nürnberg, his second marriage produced seven children.
| Pachelbel |
