Johann Pachelbel married twice

Johann Pachelbel married twice during his twelve-year Erfurt stay, which is one of the most interesting facts about Johann Pachelbel. Barbara Gabler, the daughter of the mayor of Erfurt, was his first choice. The mayor's residence hosted the wedding reception in 1681. Only two years later, in 1683, a disease that hit his town, he lost his wife Barbara and their only child to the Black Death. Pachelbel wrote a collection of chorales titled "Musicalische Sterbens-Gedanken" or "Musical Thoughts of Death" shortly after the deaths of his wife and child to express his intense sadness and loss.

Despite this tragedy, Pachelbel wed Judith Drummer, a wealthy merchant's daughter, less than a year after Barbara passed away. His second marriage turned out to be a lot more fulfilling than his first effort at parenthood. Five sons and two daughters made up the total number of children Judith and Johann had.

Wilhelm Hieronymus Pachelbel and Charles Theodore Pachelbel, two of his sons, continued in their father's musical legacy by becoming organ composers. Johann Michael, their brother, was an internationally renowned builder of musical instruments who was born in 1686.