1766 Riepp organ at the Kloster, Ottobeuren, Germany

Some of you might know him as a one-piece composer, but Johann Pachelbel, the pride of Nuremberg, wrote many other works beyond the ubiquitous Canon in D. On our next Pipedreams program, we’ll explore that extensive other repertoire, which includes splendid variation chains from which the young Bach learned a thing or two, elaborate chorale-preludes, modest miniatures for the vespers Magnificat, and splendid virtuoso showpieces that show off the sounds of 10 different instruments. Joseph Payne, Marilyn Mason, and Antoine Bouchard share excerpts from their complete CD cycles, too.

This week we take a listen to new recordings that represent an exceptional survey of four centuries of music.

Today’s world culture is nothing new to the pipe organ, which has been importing and integrating international influences for centuries.

Michael Barone shares his field recordings of some exceptional historic instruments in spectacular Bavarian Baroque churches, and invites you to join his tour there in May 2006.

These brilliant denizens of heaven evoke their rolls as travelers’ guide, focus of prayers and wishes, and symbol of nations, while providing us with a star-studded musical celebration.

A miscellany of ‘early music’ from the fifteenth through the early 18th centuries.

Some lively aural reminders of the fun we had during our recent visit to southern Germany and beyond.

…select shorts of some of the remarkable instruments we heard during a 2006 tour in southern Germany.

…a time for celebration, reflection, and projection of expectations for the new season ahead.