Compositionen zumeist Fugen über das Magnificat

Historical context

The practice of treating the Magnificat with alternate verses played by the organ in lieu of a choir prevailed in Lutheran Churches up to Pachelbel’s time. During this period, the plain-song was increasingly put into the background, and the organ interludes became an excuse for variations on any motive.

Within this tradition, Pachelbel left some “very florid and less ecclesiastical” specimens of Organ Magnificats, as noted in a book. These works reflect a historical moment when the organ’s role in liturgical music was expanding, moving beyond simple accompaniment to embrace more elaborate and varied musical expressions.

Drawn from George Grove; J. A. Fuller-Maitland (ed.), Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians (2nd ed.), Vol. 4 (1908); George Grove; J. A. Fuller-Maitland (ed.), Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians (2nd ed.), Vol. 2 (1906) — public domain, archive.org.