Pachelbel made a name for himself as one of Germany's top composers and organists at Erfurt

Pachelbel worked as an esteemed organist in a variety of capacities throughout his life. Pachelbel was hired as the organist of the Protestant Church in Erfurt in June 1678. He had developed close ties with the Bach family by that point. He lived in the home of Johann Christian Bach while serving as Johann Christoph Bach's private tutor. Johann Christoph Bach was the eldest brother of Johann Sebastian. Pachelbel's ability and technique peaked in Erfurt, where his creative potential reached its full potential. One of his hallmark pieces from the Erfurt period is the chorale prelude. Pachelbel was expressly expected to routinely write a variety of preludes for church services under his contract with the city's Protestant Church.

Pachelbel was familiar with the church's organ's inner workings and kept it in top shape during his tenure. One of the most interesting facts about Johann Pachelbel is that he would create a new large-scale composition each year to demonstrate that his career as a composer had not plateaued. He wrote masses, motets, and Magnificats specifically for use in Catholic liturgy. However, the protestant favorite chorale prelude was where he truly shined.

Pachelbel continually produced music that was significantly better than his earlier works. By the time Johann Christian Bach, Pachelbel's landlord, passed away in 1682, he had saved enough cash to buy the house he had been living in the next year from Bach's widow.