Advent and Christmas (40): "Vom Himmel hoch"

Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706) was Buttstett's teacher and predecessor in Erfurt; further musical appointments led the famous musician to Vienna, Stuttgart and Nürnberg, where he became organist of the St. Sebaldus church.

Pachelbel's well known chorale prelude of “Vom Himmel hoch” plays the melody with the pedal. The two manual voices accompanies in a pastoral manner, usually in thirds- or sext-led figurations in a three-way rhythm. If this piece is played too slowly, it could be difficult for the listeners to understand the outwritten tremoli in the upper voices.