Born in Nuremberg in 1653, a generation before Bach, Johann Pachelbel is one of the most important composers of organ music in South Germany after the Reformation. If his compositions were already widespread at the time, his most popular piece today undoubtedly remains the Canon and Gigue in D major. The Canon - from the source "a 3 Violinis con Basso c." - is constructed from a stubborn bass, the motif of two measures of which is repeated 28 times during the work. The Gigue which follows is also of a very elaborate contrapuntal invoice. The date of composition of the work is not known, but Pachelbel may well have written it, like most of his other chamber music works, between 1677 and 1695, while he was in Thuringia. A melodious work, it is also very popular with amateur ensembles.
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