Johann Pachelbel (pronounced /?pæk?lb?l/, /?p??k?lb?l/, or /?p??k?b?l/; German: [?jo?han ?pax?lb?l], [?pax?lb?l], or [pa?x?lb?l]; baptized September 1, 1653 buried March 9, 1706) was a German Baroque composer, organist and teacher, who brought the south German organ tradition to its peak. He composed a large body of sacred and secular music, and his contributions to the development of the chorale prelude and fugue have earned him a place among the most important composers of the middle Baroque era.