Composer. Born in Nuremberg, he served as organist in several royal courts in Germany; one of his employers, the Duke of Saxe-Eisenach, called him "a rare and perfect virtuoso." In 1695 Pachelbel returned to Nuremberg and assumed his final post as organist at St. Sebald's Church. He wrote many choral settings of religious texts and his choral preludes for organ strongly influenced J. S. Bach. But Pachelbel is remembered today for one of his few chamber works, the ever-popular "Canon in D" (1690). Originally scored for three violins and continuo, it has been arranged for every conceivable group of instruments and has been recorded over 400 times. It provided the theme music for the Oscar-winning film "Ordinary People" (1980).

Composer. Born in Nuremberg, he served as organist in several royal courts in Germany; one of his employers, the Duke of Saxe-Eisenach, called him "a rare and perfect virtuoso." In 1695 Pachelbel returned to Nuremberg and assumed his final post as organist at St. Sebald's Church. He wrote many choral settings of religious texts and his choral preludes for organ strongly influenced J. S. Bach. But Pachelbel is remembered today for one of his few chamber works, the ever-popular "Canon in D" (1690). Originally scored for three violins and continuo, it has been arranged for every conceivable group of instruments and has been recorded over 400 times. It provided the theme music for the Oscar-winning film "Ordinary People" (1980).

Bio by: Bobb Edwards