Toccata in e

I start now a serie of over 40 pieces of Johann Pachelbel which I performed the last two and a half weeks. I used the organ models Ottobeuren and Weissenau for this project.

Pachelbel is one of the most underestimated Baroque composer. He has a splendid technique of composition and a very enjoyable and warm style. He was very innovativ with his Toccatas and Choral-preludes. He was perhaps the first organist who wrote perpetuum-mobile-Toccatas which open a long tradition up to the famous Widor-Toccata. The most Choral-preludes follow a form which he invented: a kind of Fugue with motivs from the Choral tune followed by a performance of the complete Choral with very serious and deep feeled harmonies.

It seems to me that not all compositions which are contributed to him are his works. Espcially the Elevazione-like Fantasies and Toccatas are older than Pachelbel. Also the large Prelude in d is not convenient to his style even it includes elements from his technique of composition.

The importance of Pachelbel is that he inspired perhaps Georg Böhm and Johann Sebastian Bach. Also his pupil Johann Heinrich Buttstett wrote some very important organ pieces.

I want to contribute two typical pieces only today for to wake your intrerest. Afterwards it will go step for step.