Johann Pachelbel

Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706)

Johann Pachelbel was born in Germany in 1653. As a boy, he learned how the play the organ and showed amazing potential in both music and his studies at school. His abilities allowed him to start university at the age of fifteen, but, because of financial difficulties, Johann's family couldn't afford to have him remain. Pachelbel had to return the high school in his home town where he continued to show amazing potential as a musician. It was at this time that he began to take organ and composition lessons with a man named Kaspar Prentz who is believed to have inspired Pachelbel to pursue a career in music.

When he about 24 years old, Pachelbel was hired to be the organist for a German Prince. During this time he became well known all throughout Germany as an organist and composer. Pachelbel also became friends with the Bach family and soon began to give music lessons to several of the children. It's possible that he even gave some early lessons to a very young Johann Sebastian Bach.

When he was about 42 years old, Pachelbel was hired as the organist and music director at a big church in Germany. He worked there, writing music for the church and teaching organ students, until he died in 1706. Throughout his life, Pachelbel wrote many different pieces of music, including hymns, cantatas, works for the organ, harpsichord, violin, and voice.

Canon in D

Even though Pachelbel wrote a lot of music, he is best known for his Canon in D. If you've been to a wedding, chances are you've heard this piece played as the bride walked down the aisle. Pachelbel's Canon has also been used in numerous films and its chord progression has been copied by countless pop and rock music songs.