Johann Pachelbel was baptized on September 1, 1653, in Nuremberg, Germany. Although many know him for a singlular work, his influence on church music, keyboard composition, and later composers was much broader. His Canon in D major is one of the most recognizable pieces in Western classical music written for three violins and basso continuo, historians regard Pachelbel as one of the leading composers of the late 17th century. His keyboard works remain staples of organ repertoire, although his famous canon continues to be among the most performed pieces of Baroque music worldwide for formal ceremonies. Interestingly, Pachelbel was also connected to the Bach family—he taught Johann Christoph Bach (1671–1721) who in turn taught his younger brother, Johann Sebastian Bach who was born in 1685.