J. Pachelbel - Toccata in G minor (POP 283)

Johann Pachelbel was born in 1653 in Nürenberg, where he died in 1706. He was a contemporary of Böhm, Fischer, Brühns, Raison, G. Julien, F. Couperin and H. Purcell. For twelve years organist in Erfurt (1678-1690) and eleven years in his hometown (1695-1706), he was in charge of musical education of J. Christoph Bach, the elder brother and first teacher of J. S. Bach, who was totakky familiar with his music, which conveyed the southern tradition routed in Frescobaldi and trasmitted by Froberger and Poglietti. Although utterly distant in style from Dieterich Buxtehude, Pachelbel was his great admirer and, in 1699, dedicated to him the "Hexacordum Apollinis"(for organ or harpsichord), encompassing the famous cherished "Aria Sebaldina", in F minor (POP 6). During his 52 years life, Johann Pachelbel coukd play only relatively small, though quite balanced and peculiar organs (a 27 stops, two manuals and pedalboard,with a complete reed chorus, in Erfurt, and a 14 stops with two manuals and pedalboard, with very good, in Nürenberg). We chose a plenum registration for the Toccata in G minor, due, among other (technical) matters, to its brilliant character, impulsive mood and dense writing.