Baroque Era- Johann Pachelbel

Johann Pachelbel

The Baroque Era was full of surprises from music. One of the composers that I was interested in though was Johann Pachelbel. Johann Pachelbel was born in 1653 at Nuremberg, Germany. He was born into a middle class family. Pachelbel was baptized September 1. When Pachelbel was going through early life he started receiving musical training from Heinrich Schwemmer who was a musician and music teacher, and later in life a cantor of St. Sebaldus Church. Pachelbel received his education from St. Lorenz Hauptschule and Auditorio Aegediano in Nuremberg. Later in life, in June 29, 1669 he became a student at the University of Altdorf and became the appointed organist of St. Lorenz church. Due to Pachelbel's money problems he had to leave the university in under a year. He had to become a scholarship student at the Gymnasium Poeticum where he was permitted to study music outside of the Gymnasium Poeticum, and got a new teacher by the name of Kaspar Prentz. Prentz left for Eichstätt in 1672, and by 1673 Pachelbel was staying in Vienna, and he became the deputy organist at the famous Saint Stephen Cathedral for the next five years. In 1677, Pachelbel moved to Eisenach, and became a court organist for Kapellmeister Daniel Eberlin. While there in Eisenach he met members of the Bach family, and became Johann Ambrosius closest friend. In June 1678, Pachelbel was employed as organist of Predigerkirche in Erfurt. Pachelbel remained in Erfurt for 12 years and established his reputation as one of the leading German organ composers. Pachelbel married twice while he was in Erfurt, first to Barbara Gabler only for her and their only son to die to the plague two years later, and second to Judith Drommer, ten months after his first wife died. They had five sons and two daughters. Two of the sons, Wilhelm Hieronymus Pachelbel and Charles Theodore Pachelbel, also became organ composers. He left Erfurt and found a job in a town called Gotha as the town organist, a post he occupied for two years, starting on November 8, 1692. While he was there he published his only music collection called Acht Chorale zum Praeambulieren in 1693. His teacher Georg Caspar Wecker died on April 20, 1695 went and played for the funeral leaving Erfurt. Pachelbel lived the rest of his life in Nuremberg and published the chamber music collection Musicalische Ergötzung, and, most important, the Hexachordum Apollinis a set of six keyboard arias with variations. In 1706, Johann Pachelbel died and was buried on March, 9. Works included in this link.

Sources Include- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Pachelbel#1653.E2.80.931674:_Early_youth_and_education_.28Nuremberg.2C_Altdorf.2C_Regensburg.29
http://www.pachelbel.us/

The Renaissance Era

The Renaissance Era was full of art, inventions, and discovery. The era went from the 14th to 16th century. In this time period, many artists became available and they painted some magnificent pieces of art. The famous painting of Mona Lisa was painted by artist Leonardo da Vinci. This painting was the only painting in this era of a person smiling.
Another famous painting was the School of Athens by artist Raphael. The painting’s meaning is to describe knowledge. Each of the four walls in the painting means something different. They are as follows: Seek Knowledge of Causes, Divine Inspiration, Knowledge of Things Devine, and To Each What Is Due.
The artist Michelangelo painted Crucifixion of St. Peter as to show the pain and suffering St. Peter endured while being crucified. He showed details in the viewers’ faces to show the look in their faces that they knew someone was going to die.
An artist not heard of very often is the German artist Albrecht Altdorfer. Altdorfer painted mostly religious scenes and some landscape scenes. One of his famous paintings was The Resurrection. The scene was that of Jesus Christ coming back to life from the dead and showing the amazement on peoples’ faces.
Music in the Reniassance Era was developing more as the period progressed. Instruments such as the slide trumpet (similar to a modern day trombone) and the cornett were invented duirng this time period. Other instruments such as the transverse flute, the bagpipes, and the voil were also invented during this time era.
Music in this time period was mostly played in Cathlic Mass services and for special events. The most popular music was secular music. This non-sacred music was played for entertainment in the streets rather than in the church. Music was also first printed via the printing press during this time era.
Some composers of the Reniassance included William Bryd who wrote
Parthenia, Josquin de Prez who was hired bt the Queen of England to write music, and Claudio Monteverdi who made a series of books containing different pieces he wrote. There are many other artists and these are just a few to name.
The Reniassnace Era was full and music and art and in many ways, they related to each other. Beginnings of music and art in this era have shaped the styles and methods we use today.