Biography
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Born
1 September 1653
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Born In
Nürnberg, Bayern, Germany
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Died
3 March 1706 (aged 52)
Johann Pachelbel (baptised 11 September 1653 – buried 9 March 1706) was a German composer, organist, and teacher who was a leading figure in the south German organ school during the middle Baroque period. He composed a substantial body of sacred and secular music and made significant contributions to the development of the chorale prelude and fugue, securing his place among the important composers of his era.
During his lifetime, Pachelbel’s music was widely popular, and he taught many pupils. His works influenced composers in southern and central Germany. Today, he is best known for the "Canon in D," along with other notable pieces such as the "Chaconne in F minor," the "Toccata in E minor" for organ, and the "Hexachordum Apollinis," a set of keyboard variations.
Pachelbel was influenced by southern German composers like Johann Jakob Froberger and Johann Caspar Kerll, Italian composers such as Girolamo Frescobaldi and Alessandro Poglietti, French composers, and the Nuremberg tradition. His style is characterised by clear and straightforward counterpoint that emphasises melodic and harmonic clarity. Compared to Dieterich Buxtehude, his music is less virtuosic and harmonically adventurous, but like Buxtehude, he experimented with various ensembles and instrumental combinations in his chamber and vocal music, the latter often featuring rich instrumentation. Pachelbel explored numerous variation forms and techniques, evident in works ranging from sacred concertos to harpsichord suites.
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