The Prodigal Son

Donald Macleod unravels the rich musical legacy of a composer known almost exclusively for one iconic work: the "Canon in D". Today - after a peripatetic life in Stuttgart and Gotha, Pachelbel finally comes home to Nuremberg.

Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706) was one of the most exceptional musical minds of his generation - a composer of brilliant choral and keyboard music and a huge influence on JS Bach. Yet more than three centuries on, his reputation rests almost exclusively on one piece - his "Canon in D", one of the most famous pieces of classical music of our own age. This week, Donald Macleod delves deep into his world; exploring a raft of brilliant vocal and instrumental works and putting to bed the myth of the "one-hit wonder". We also look more closely at the iconic Canon - in a variety of fascinating, sometimes surprising arrangements.

A selection of brilliant secular songs take us to Nuremberg - and Pachelbel's dream job, back home at the console of the organ at St Sebaldus's Church.

Das Gewitter im Aprilen
Hans-Jörg Mammel, tenor
Gli incogniti
Amandine Beyer, director / violin

Musikalische Ergötzung in B Major
London Baroque
Charles Medlam, director

O grosses Musienlicht
Hans-Jörg Mammel, tenor
Gli incogniti
Amandine Beyer, director / violin

Keyboard Suite no.29 in E Minor
Joseph Payne, harpsichord

Gute Walther unser Raths
Hans-Jörg Mammel, tenor
Gli incogniti
Amandine Beyer, director / violin

George Rochberg
Variations on Pachelbel's Canon (String Quartet no.6, 3rd mvt)
Concord String Quartet

Chaconne in F Minor
Barbara Harbach, organ

Mein Leben, dessen Creuz für mich
Hans-Jörg Mammel, tenor
Gli incogniti
Amandine Beyer, director / violin.