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Johann Pachelbel
Baroque · 1653–1706
Johann Pachelbel spent his career as a working church organist in German-speaking Europe. Born in Nuremberg in 1653, he held posts in Vienna, Eisenach, and Erfurt before returning home in 1695 to the organ of St. Sebaldus, one of Nuremberg's principal churches, where he stayed until his death in 1706. In Erfurt he taught Johann Christoph Bach, the older brother who in turn raised and taught the young Johann Sebastian.
In his own time Pachelbel was known for organ music and church works, and he was a respected figure in the generation before Bach. Today almost everyone knows exactly one piece: the Canon in D, in which three violins play the same melody in turn over an endlessly repeating bass line. It sat in obscurity for two and a half centuries until recordings in the late 1960s turned it into one of the most played pieces of classical music on earth.
Naturally, start with the Canon and Gigue in D major, and stay for the lively Gigue that almost nobody plays.
198 works in the catalog, across 3 genres. Log what you listen to with Opus, the classical music journal for iPhone.
Chamber
- Canon and Gigue in D major, for 3 violins and continuo, T.337, "Pachelbel's Canon"
- Aria con variazioni in A major, for violin, 2 violas da gamba and continuo, T.341
- Musicalische Ergötzungm, for 2 scordatura violins and continuo
- Partie á 4 in G major, for violin, 2 violas and violone, T.339
- Partie á 4, for violin, 2 violas and violone in F sharp minor, T.340, "Lamento"
- Partie á 5, for 2 violins, 2 violas and continuo in G major, T.338
- Suite for Fute in F sharp minor
Keyboard
- 8 Magnificat Fugues in the Fourth Tone, T.145-152
- 8 Magnificat Fugues in the Seventh Tone, T.175-182
- 10 Magnificat Fugues in the Second Tone, T.124-133
- 10 Magnificat Fugues in the Third Tone, T.134-144
- 10 Magnificat Fugues on the Sixth Tone, T.165-174
- 12 Magnificat Fugues in the Fifth Tone, T.153-164
- 13 Magnificat Fugues in the Eighth Tone, T.183-195
- 17 Toccatas, T.231-247
- 23 Magnificat Fugues in the First Tone, T.101-123
- Ach Gott vom Himmel, sich darein, T.9
- Ach Gott vom Himmel, sich darein, T.10
- Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder, T.11
- Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder, T.12
- Ach wie elend ist unsre Zeit, T.13
- Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, T.16
- Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, T.17
- An Wasserflüssem Babylon, T.18
- An Wasserflüssem Babylon, T.19
- Aria in A major, T.218
- Aria in A minor, T.219
- Aria in D major, T.217
- Arietta, for organ in F major, T. 220
- Arietta and Variations in F
- Auf meinen liben Gott, T.20
- Chorale Preludes, T.1-8
- Chorale Variations on 'Ach, was soll ich Sünder machen?,' T.85
- Chorale Variations on 'Alle Menschen müssen sterben', T.82
- Chorale Variations on 'Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele,' T.87
- Chorale Variations on 'Herzlich tut mich verlangen,' T.83
- Chorale Variations on 'Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan?,' T.84
- Chorale Variations on 'Werde Munter, mein Gemüte' T.86
- Christe, der du bist Tag und Licht, T.21
- Christ lag in Todesbanden, T.22
- Christ unser Herr zum Jordam kam, T.23
- Ciacona in C major, T.201
- Ciacona in D major, T.202
- Ciacona in D major, T.203
- Ciacona in D minor
- Ciacona in D minor, T.204
- Ciacona in F minor, T.206
- Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt, T.25
- Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt, T.26
- Der tag, der ist so freudenreich, T.27
- Dies sind die heil'gen zehn Gebot, for organ
- Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt, T.28
- Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt, T.29
- Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt, T.30
- Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott, T.31
- Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott, T.32
- Es geht daher des Tages Schein
- Es spricht der Unseisen Mund wohl, T.35
- Es woll' uns Gott genädig sei, T.36
- Es woll' uns Gott genädig sein, T.37
- Fantasia in A minor, T.256
- Fantasia in C major, T.251
- Fantasia in D minor, T.252
- Fantasia in D minor, T.253
- Fantasia in E flat major, T.254
- Fantasia in G minor
- Fantasia in G minor, T.255
- Fuga a 2 in C
- Fuga a 2 in C
- Fuga in C super UT re mi fa sol
- Fugue, for organ in C, T. 270
- Fugue, for organ in C, T.271
- Fugue, for organ in D minor, T. 276
- Fugue, for organ in G, T. 280
- Fugue in A major, T.283
- Fugue in A minor, T.284
- Fugue in A minor, T.285
- Fugue in B aaa
- Fugue in B minor, T.286
- Fugue in C
- Fugue in C, T.261
- Fugue in C, T.262
- Fugue in C, T.263
- Fugue in C, T.264
- Fugue in C, T.265
- Fugue in C, T.266
- Fugue in C, T.267
- Fugue in C, T.268
- Fugue in C, T.272
- Fugue in C major, T.266
- Fugue in C major, T.269
- Fugue in C major, T.271
- Fugue in C minor
- Fugue in C minor, T.273
- Fugue in D
- Fugue in D, T.275
- Fugue in D major, T.274
- Fugue in D minor
- Fugue in D minor
- Fugue in D minor, T.276
- Fugue in E minor, T.277
- Fugue in F major, T.278
- Fugue in G
- Fugue in G
- Fugue in G, T.281
- Fugue in G major, T.279
- Fugue in G major, T.280
- Fugue in G minor, T.282
- Fugues on the Magnificat octavi toni
- Fugues on the Magnificat secundi toni
- Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, T.38
- Gott der Vater wohn' uns bei, T.39
- Gott Vater, der du deine Sonn, T.41
- Herr Christ, der einig Gott's Sohn, T.42
- Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir, T.43
- Herr Jesu Christ, ich weiss gar wohl, T.44
- Hexachordum Apollinis, 6 collection set of arias and variations for keyboard, T.211-216
- Ich hab' mein Sach Gott heimgestellt, T.45
- Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christi, T.46
- In dich hab' ich gehoffet, Herr, T.47
- Jesus Christus unser Heiland, der den Tod, T.48
- Jesus Christus unser Heiland, der den Tod, T.49
- Komm Gott Schöpfer, heiliger Geist, T.50
- Komm heiliger Geist, Herre Gott, T.51
- Kommt her zu mir, spricht Gottes Sohn, T.52
- Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit, T.deest
- Lob sei Gott in des Himmels Thron, T.53
- Magnificat
- Magnificat Fugue, for organ in tone 5, no. 1, T. 153
- Magnificat Fugue, for organ in tone 5, no. 2, T. 154
- Magnificat Fugue, for organ in tone 5, no. 3, T. 155
- Magnificat Fugue, for organ in tone 5, no. 4, T. 156
- Magnificat Fugue, for organ in tone 5, no. 5, T. 157
- Magnificat Fugue, for organ in tone 5, no. 6, T. 158
- Magnificat Fugue, for organ in tone 5, no. 7, T. 159
- Magnificat Fugue, for organ in tone 5, no. 8, T. 160
- Magnificat Fugue, for organ in tone 5, no. 9, T. 161
- Magnificat Fugue, for organ in tone 5, no. 10, T. 162
- Magnificat Fugue, for organ in tone 5, no. 11, T. 163
- Magnificat Fugue, for organ in tone 5, no. 12. T. 164
- Meine Seele erhebt den Herren", T.55
- Meine Seele erhebt den Herren, T.56
- Musicalische Sterbens-Gedancken, chorale variations
- Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, T.58
- O Lamm Gottes unschuldig
- O lamm Gottes unschuldig, T.60
- O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde gross, T.61
- Praeludium et Fantasia in A minor: Fugue in A minor
- Praeludium et Fuga in C
- Prelude, for organ in D minor, T. 222
- Prelude and Fugue in C minor
- Prelude and Fugue in D minor, for organ
- Prelude and Fugue in E minor
- Prelude in D minor
- Preludes, T.221-228
- Ricercare in C major, T.291
- Ricercare in C minor, T.292
- Ricercare in F sharp minor, T.293
- Suite in C minor, T.302
- Suite no. 25 in C major, T.301
- Suite no. 26 in D minor, T.305
- Suite no. 27 in E flat major, T.306
- Suite no. 28 in E minor, T. 308
- Suite no. 29 in E minor, T.309
- Suite no. 32 in F major, T.311
- Suite no. 32b in F sharp minor, T.312
- Suite no. 33 in G minor, T.315
- Suite no. 34 in D major, T.313
- Suite no. 35 in A flat major, T.317
- Suite no. 36 in A major, T.318
- Toccata, for organ in C, T. 232
- Toccata, for organ in G minor, T. 246
- Toccata and Fugue in C
- Vater unser im Himmelreich, T.62
- Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her, T.63
- Warum betrübst du duch, mein Herz, T.64
- Warum betrübst du duch, mein Herz, T.65
- Was mein gott will, das gescheh' allzeit, T.66
- Was mein gott will, das gescheh' allzeit, T.67
- Wenn mein Stündlein vorhanden ist, T.68
- Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein, T.69
- Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein, T.70
- Wir glauben all' an einen Gott
- Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält, T.71
- Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält, T.72
- Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält, T.73
- Wo Gott zum Haus nicht gibt sein Gunst, T.74
- Wo Gott zum Haus nicht gibt sein Gunst, T.75
Vocal
- Ach Herr, wie ist meiner Feinde so viel, cantata for bass, violin and continuo
- Christ lag in Todesbanden, sacred concerto for 4 voices, 2 violins, 3 violas, bassoon and continuo, T.371
- Der Herr is König, darum toben die Völker, motet for double chorus, T.351
- Der Herr is König und herrlich geschmückt, motet for double chorus and continuo, T.352
- Gott sei uns gnädig, sacred concerto for 5 voices, 5 trumpets, timpani, 2 violins, 4 violas, bassoon and continuo, T.374
- Lobet den Herrn, sacred concerto for 5-part chorus, 2 flutes, bassoon, 5 trumpets, trombone, harp, strings and continuo, T.378
- Magnificat, for 5-part chorus, 2 cornets or oboes, 2 violins, 3 violas, bassoon and continuo in D major, T.415
- Mein Fleisch ist die rechte Speise, cantata for soprano and chorus
- Nun danket alle Gott, for choir and piano
- Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan, sacred concerto for 4-part chorus, 2 violins, 2 violas, bassoon and continuo, T. 381
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