Published
Alle Menschen müssen sterben (P.377a)
Alle Menschen müssen sterben (P.377a) (Todas las personas deben morir)
In Variation 1, the melody is ornamented slightly and basic imitative patterns are used in lower voices. A more elaborate melodic ornamentation is used in Variation 2, accompanied by longer note values. The next four variations all employ the original melody unadorned, accompanied by passages in shorter note values, sometimes engaging in imitative counterpoint. Variation 7 is the chromatic variation of the set; it is followed by the energetic two-part Variation 8 which is based on parallel thirds arranged in fast-paced passages.
An arrangement of this set of variations exists made by Johann Gottfried Walther. It contains 5 variations and is listed in the Perreault catalogue under number 377b.
Published on Musicalische Sterbens-Gedancken (Pensamientos musicales sobre la muerte)
As the title indicates, the collection was probably influenced by the deaths of Pachelbel’s first wife, Barbara Gabler, and their only child. They both died in Erfurt in September 1683 during an epidemic.