Christian Erbach

Tocatas, ricercares and canzonas dominate the keyboard music written by Erbach. He was an organist and composer who held and maintained (throughout most of his life) the position of assistant or full organist for the city of Augsburg. His reputation was complete as he attracted many students of both Protestant and Catholic perusasions. Influences upon the character of his music were primarily Venetian even though his keyboard music is reminiscent of Hassler's. Outside of the context of instrumental music, Erbach also wrote pieces for the church service and liturgical festivities. Erbach was considered to have a fine ear for the organ and was consulted on a number of occassions when instruments were being built. ~ Keith Johnson