Johann Pachelbel

(1653 - 1706)

Johann Pachelbel - Prague Classical ConcertsJohann Pachelbel (September 1, 1653 - March 9, 1706) was born in Nuremberg, then one of the so-called "free" imperial cities and a great center of learning and culture, a took instructions from Heinrich Schwemmer. After leaving school in 1669, he spent a year in Altdorf before moving to Regensburg where he began to make valuable contacts with musicians associated with the Austrian Court in Vienna. By 1673 he was living in Vienna, where he was deputy organist at St. Stephen's Cathedral and took music lessons with Johann Kaspar Kerll, who fashioned Pachelbel's sophisticated organ style. The younger man often deputized for Kerll on the organ of the Predigerkirche.

Enjoy classical concerts of Pachelbel music in Prague. Book tickets online >>>

In 1677 Pachelbel left Vienna and began a peripatetic period in his life where he held the organ position in churches in many towns across the central and southern German states, including Eisenach and Erfurt (where he came into contact with the Bach family, including Ambrosius Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach's father), Stuttgart and Gotha. He remained in Gotha from 1692-95, then return to his home city of Nuremburg, this time on a substantially different footing than when he had left it; Pachelbel was by now a famous and influential figure in the world of music, his especial skill in composition – his infinitely inventive creation of chorale variations stressing the importance of cantabile and clarity of line – proving especially popular and definitive in the world of organ music at that time. His many pupils included Johann Sebastian Bach's elder brother Johann Christoph, who was one of many to digest his methodology and carry his compositional message to others.

Pachelbel had return to Nuremberg to succeed to his old teacher Georg Kaspar Wecker at the church of St. Sebaldus, a position he retained until his death at the age of 52. Most of his music was written for the organ, but some of his earliest surviving works are a set of motets including Nun danket alle Gott and Der Herr ist König, written during his time in Erfurt, which are a models of clarity and tunefulness. His greatest compositional achievement is generally recognized to be the Hexachordum Apollinis of 1699, six sets of keyboard variations on various aria, but other worthy efforts include Musikalische Stephens-Gedanken of 1683 and the Musikalische Ergötzung (1695), a series of dance suites written for string trio which were meant for the type of domestic entertainment at court or among musical colleagues supplied in a later generation by Georg Philipp Telemann's Tafelmusik. It would seem that the famed Canon and Gigue for three violins and bass continuo was probably written for a similar Hausmusik function; its orchestration occurred much later.

Upcoming classical concerts of the composer's music in Prague:

  • Jul 4 Friday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Jul 4 Friday
    The Best of Classics

    Time: 18:00
    St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square

  • Jul 4 Friday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 18:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Jul 4 Friday
    Classic Spectacular

    Time: 19:30
    Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)

  • Jul 4 Friday
    WOW Show

    Time: 20:00
    WOW - Black Light Theatre

  • Jul 4 Friday
    The Four Seasons, Emperor Concerto & Chopin in Mirror Chapel with piano

    Time: 20:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Jul 4 Friday
    The Best of Image

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Jul 5 Saturday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Jul 5 Saturday
    The Best of Swan Lake - P. I. Tchaikovsky

    Time: 17:00
    Broadway Theatre

  • Jul 5 Saturday
    Vivaldi Four Seasons

    Time: 17:00
    St. Giles Church

  • Jul 5 Saturday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 18:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Jul 5 Saturday
    Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague

    Time: 19:00
    Boccaccio Ballroom

  • Jul 5 Saturday
    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons

    Time: 19:00
    Klementinum, St. Clement's Cathedral

  • Jul 5 Saturday
    Classic Spectacular

    Time: 19:30
    Church of Our Lady before Tyn (Tyn Church)

  • Jul 5 Saturday
    Classic Spectacular

    Time: 19:30
    Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)

  • Jul 5 Saturday
    Cosmic Cabinet

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Jul 5 Saturday
    WOW Show

    Time: 20:00
    WOW - Black Light Theatre

  • Jul 5 Saturday
    Strauss, Mozart, Dvorak & Opera with Ballet

    Time: 20:00
    Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall

  • Jul 6 Sunday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Jul 6 Sunday
    The Best of Czech and World Music

    Time: 16:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Jul 6 Sunday
    Classic Spectacular

    Time: 17:30
    Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)

  • Jul 6 Sunday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 18:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Jul 6 Sunday
    Bolero, Carmina Burana

    Time: 20:00
    Spanish Synagogue

  • Jul 6 Sunday
    WOW Show

    Time: 20:00
    WOW - Black Light Theatre

  • Jul 6 Sunday
    The Four Seasons, Emperor Concerto & Chopin in Mirror Chapel with piano

    Time: 20:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Jul 7 Monday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Jul 7 Monday
    The Best of Classics

    Time: 18:00
    St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square

  • Jul 7 Monday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 18:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Jul 7 Monday
    Classic Spectacular

    Time: 19:30
    Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)

  • Jul 7 Monday
    Hallelujah

    Time: 20:00
    Spanish Synagogue

  • Jul 7 Monday
    The Best of Classics

    Time: 20:00
    Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall

  • Jul 8 Tuesday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Jul 8 Tuesday
    Vivaldi Four Seasons

    Time: 16:30
    St. Giles Church

  • Jul 8 Tuesday
    Famous Classic and broadway favorites

    Time: 18:00
    St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square

  • Jul 8 Tuesday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 18:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Jul 8 Tuesday
    Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague

    Time: 19:00
    Boccaccio Ballroom

  • Jul 8 Tuesday
    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons

    Time: 19:00
    Klementinum, St. Clement's Cathedral

  • Jul 8 Tuesday
    Classic Spectacular

    Time: 19:30
    Church of Our Lady before Tyn (Tyn Church)

  • Jul 8 Tuesday
    Classic Spectacular

    Time: 19:30
    Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)

  • Jul 8 Tuesday
    The Best of Mozart and Dvorak

    Time: 20:00
    Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall

  • Jul 8 Tuesday
    WOW Show

    Time: 20:00
    WOW - Black Light Theatre

  • Jul 8 Tuesday
    Abrakadabra

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Jul 8 Tuesday
    The most beautiful musical melodies

    Time: 20:00
    Spanish Synagogue

  • Jul 9 Wednesday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Jul 9 Wednesday
    The Best of Classics

    Time: 18:00
    St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square

  • Jul 9 Wednesday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 18:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Jul 9 Wednesday
    Classic Spectacular

    Time: 19:30
    Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)

  • Jul 9 Wednesday
    The Best of World and Czech Music

    Time: 20:00
    Spanish Synagogue

  • Jul 9 Wednesday
    The Best of Swan Lake - P. I. Tchaikovsky

    Time: 20:00
    Broadway Theatre

  • Jul 9 Wednesday
    The Best of Image

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Jul 10 Thursday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Jul 10 Thursday
    Vivaldi Four Seasons in Old Prague

    Time: 16:30
    St. Giles Church

  • Jul 10 Thursday
    Famous Classic and broadway favorites

    Time: 18:00
    St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square

  • Jul 10 Thursday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 18:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Jul 10 Thursday
    Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague

    Time: 19:00
    Boccaccio Ballroom

  • Jul 10 Thursday
    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons

    Time: 19:00
    Klementinum, St. Clement's Cathedral

  • Jul 10 Thursday
    Classic Spectacular

    Time: 19:30
    Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)

  • Jul 10 Thursday
    Hallelujah

    Time: 20:00
    Spanish Synagogue

  • Jul 10 Thursday
    Cosmic Cabinet

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Jul 10 Thursday
    WOW Show

    Time: 20:00
    WOW - Black Light Theatre

  • Jul 10 Thursday
    The Best of Tchaikovsky, Dvorak & Grieg

    Time: 20:00
    Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall

  • Jul 11 Friday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Jul 11 Friday
    The Best of Classics

    Time: 18:00
    St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square

  • Jul 11 Friday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 18:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Jul 11 Friday
    Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague

    Time: 19:00
    Boccaccio Ballroom

  • Jul 11 Friday
    Classic Spectacular

    Time: 19:30
    Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)

  • Jul 11 Friday
    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons, Sarasate - Gypsy Airs op. 20

    Time: 20:00
    Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall

  • Jul 11 Friday
    WOW Show

    Time: 20:00
    WOW - Black Light Theatre

  • Jul 11 Friday
    The Four Seasons, Emperor Concerto & Chopin in Mirror Chapel with piano

    Time: 20:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Jul 11 Friday
    Afrikania

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Jul 12 Saturday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Jul 12 Saturday
    The Best of Swan Lake - P. I. Tchaikovsky

    Time: 17:00
    Broadway Theatre

  • Jul 12 Saturday
    Great Baroque and Classical Music

    Time: 17:00
    St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square

  • Jul 12 Saturday
    Vivaldi Four Seasons

    Time: 17:00
    St. Giles Church

  • Jul 12 Saturday
    The Best of World and Czech Music

    Time: 17:00
    St. Martin in the Wall Church

  • Jul 12 Saturday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 18:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Jul 12 Saturday
    Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague

    Time: 19:00
    Boccaccio Ballroom

  • Jul 12 Saturday
    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons

    Time: 19:00
    Klementinum, St. Clement's Cathedral

  • Jul 12 Saturday
    Sinatra Tribute – show and dinner

    Time: 19:00
    Art Restaurant Manes

  • Jul 12 Saturday
    Classic Spectacular

    Time: 19:30
    Church of Our Lady before Tyn (Tyn Church)