Johann Pachelbel (1653–1706)
Complete Vocal Works
Edited by Wolfgang Hirschmann, Thomas Röder and Katharina Larissa Paech on behalf of the Institut für Musikforschung at the Julius-Maximilian University of Würzburg (up to 2008: Institut für Musikwissenschaft at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg) and the Institut für Kirchenmusik at the Kunstuniversität Graz
Johann Pachelbel is known today as a composer of organ music and of a world-famous instrumental canon which frequently features in concert programmes and recording catalogues. However, the same can be said of only a few of his vocal compositions. At most, the motets appear occasionally in church music repertoire. Pachelbel’s arias, vocal concerti and large-scale Magnificats have received little attention up to now.
Church musicians and musicologists have long wished for a critical edition of these important works, which survive in Pachelbel’s manuscript and were largely composed in his main places of work, Erfurt and Nuremberg. As always with such ventures, new discoveries are to be expected regarding the body of works, source material and the context of the works. This concerns not only beautiful music, but rather a deepening of our understanding of Pachelbel as a key figure between southern and central German traditions, and the recognition of an oeuvre which has all too often been pushed into the shadows by the mighty Bach.
The edition aims to make available all of Johann Pachelbel’s surviving vocal works in the best possible form. As a chronological order is not possible in many cases, the individual works have been arranged according to scoring within their groups. Fragments and works where Johann Pachelbel’s authorship is doubtful appear at the end of the respective group. The range of doubtful works incorporated is quite wide. Each volume includes an introduction (German/English) and a Critical Commentary (German).
Bärenreiter will issue performing editions derived from these critical editions wherever appropriate.
Publication Schedule
The edition comprises 11 volumes. Please find an overview here.
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The following purchasing options are available for this edition:
- Purchase of individual volumes at retail sales prices
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