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The Prodigal Son

Donald Macleod unravels the rich musical legacy of a composer known almost exclusively for one iconic work, the Canon in D. Today, Pachelbel comes home to Nuremberg.

Donald Macleod unravels the rich musical legacy of a composer known almost exclusively for one iconic work: the "Canon in D". Today - after a peripatetic life in Stuttgart and Gotha, Pachelbel finally comes home to Nuremberg.

Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706) was one of the most exceptional musical minds of his generation - a composer of brilliant choral and keyboard music and a huge influence on JS Bach. Yet more than three centuries on, his reputation rests almost exclusively on one piece - his "Canon in D", one of the most famous pieces of classical music of our own age. This week, Donald Macleod delves deep into his world; exploring a raft of brilliant vocal and instrumental works and putting to bed the myth of the "one-hit wonder". We also look more closely at the iconic Canon - in a variety of fascinating, sometimes surprising arrangements.

A selection of brilliant secular songs take us to Nuremberg - and Pachelbel's dream job, back home at the console of the organ at St Sebaldus's Church.

Das Gewitter im Aprilen
Hans-Jörg Mammel, tenor
Gli incogniti
Amandine Beyer, director / violin

Musikalische Ergötzung in B Major
London Baroque
Charles Medlam, director

O grosses Musienlicht
Hans-Jörg Mammel, tenor
Gli incogniti
Amandine Beyer, director / violin

Keyboard Suite no.29 in E Minor
Joseph Payne, harpsichord

Gute Walther unser Raths
Hans-Jörg Mammel, tenor
Gli incogniti
Amandine Beyer, director / violin

George Rochberg
Variations on Pachelbel's Canon (String Quartet no.6, 3rd mvt)
Concord String Quartet

Chaconne in F Minor
Barbara Harbach, organ

Mein Leben, dessen Creuz für mich
Hans-Jörg Mammel, tenor
Gli incogniti
Amandine Beyer, director / violin.

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Johann Pachelbel

    Das Gewitter im Aprilen

    Performer: Amandine Beyer. Performer: Hans-Jörg Mammel. Performer: Gli Incogniti.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • HMC902238.
  • Johann Pachelbel

    Das Gewitter Im Aprilen

    Performer: Amandine Beyer. Singer: Hans-Jörg Mammel. Ensemble: Gli Incogniti.
    • Un Orage d'Avril.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 5.
  • Johann Pachelbel

    Musikalische Ergötzung in B Major

    Performer: Charles Medlam. Performer: London Baroque.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • HMC-901539.
  • Johann Pachelbel

    Musikalische Ergötzung in B Major

    Orchestra: London Baroque. Director: Charles Medlam.
    • Pachelbel - Canon & Gigue - Chamber Works.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 2.
  • Johann Pachelbel

    O grosses Musienlicht

    Performer: Amandine Beyer. Performer: Gli Incogniti. Performer: Hans-Jörg Mammel.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • HMC902238.
  • Johann Pachelbel

    Keyboard Suite no.29 in E Minor

    Performer: Joseph Payne.
    • BIS.
    • BIS-CD 809.
  • Johann Pachelbel

    Mein Leben, Dessen Kreuz

    Singer: Hans-Jörg Mammel. Ensemble: Gli Incogniti. Director: Amandine Beyer.
    • Un Orage d'Avril.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 27.
  • Johann Pachelbel

    Suite in E Minor

    Performer: Joseph Payne.
    • BIS : BIS-CD 809.
    • BIS.
    • 38.
  • Johann Pachelbel

    Guter Walther unsers Rats

    Performer: Amadine Beyer. Performer: Hans-Jörg Mammel. Performer: Gli Incogniti.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • HMC902238.
  • George Rochberg

    Variations on Pachelbel’s Canon (String Quartet no.6, 3rd mvt)

    Composer: Johnann Pachelbel. Performer: Concord String Quartet.
    • NEW WORLD.
    • NW80551.
  • Johann Pachelbel

    Guter Walther Unsers Rats

    Singer: Hans-Jörg Mammel. Ensemble: Gli Incogniti. Director: Amandine Beyer.
    • Un Orage d'Avril.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 39.
  • Johann Pachelbel

    Chaconne in F Minor

    Performer: Barbara Harbach.
    • MSR Classics.
    • 1442.
  • Johann Pachelbel

    Mein Leben, dessen Creuz für mich

    Performer: Amandine Beyer. Performer: Hans-Jörg Mammel. Performer: Gli Incogniti.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • HMC902238.
  • Johann Pachelbel

    Chaconne in F Minor

    Performer: Barbara Harbach.
    • Canon & Gigue / Chamber Works.
    • MSR Classics.
    • 5.

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  • Thu 12 Apr 2018 12:00
  • Thu 17 Sep 2020 12:00

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