Rheinberger’s Journey

The principality of Liechtenstein may be one of Europe’s smallest corners, but from it sprang one of the late 19th century’s most prolific and important organists and teachers. Josef Rheinberger is the focus of our next Pipedreams program. He’s a one-time child prodigy who already was playing in church at age seven and who reigned as harmony, counterpoint and history professor at the Royal Academy of Music in Munich for three decades. A dozen different soloists join us as we follow the trail of his prodigious and influential talent from his very first compositions through the Sonatas and Concertos by which he is still remembered.

He was a master in the grand romantic tradition, one of the most prolific protagonists of the organ, and a teacher of some of America’s best turn-of-the-century composers. Discover treasures from a bygone day, and join us for the glorious music of Josef Rheinberger, as we embark on Rheinberger’s Journey, this week on Pipedreams.

Listen to the program

Program Broadcast dates:

November 19, 2001

Music played in the program

JOSEF RHEINBERGER: Fughetta Number 1 [1851] –Rudolf Innig (1844 Walcker/Sankt Maria Pfarrkirche, Schramberg, Germany) Dabringhaus und Grimm MDG 317 0891

JOSEF RHEINBERGER: Trio in g, Opus 49, #1 –Michael Pohl (1905 Sauer/Berliner Dom, Berlin, Germany) Motette CD MOT 12211

JOSEF RHEINBERGER: Finale, from Sonata Number 19 in g, Opus 193 –Bruce Stevens (1863 E. & G.G. Hook/Immaculate Conception RCC, Boston, MA) Raven OAR-530

JOSEF RHEINBERGER: Andante Pastorale, from Sonata Number 4, Opus 98 –Hansjörg Schellenberger, oboe; Hedwig Bilgram (1990 Rieger/Pfarre St. Gilgen, Austria) Denon 75081

JOSEF RHEINBERGER: Hymn, Opus 35, after Psalm 84 –Stuttgart Chamber Choir, Frieder Bernius, conductor; Sonntraud Engels (1846 Walcker/Evangelical Church, Hoffenheim-Baden, Germany) Carus CD-83.113

JOSEF RHEINBERGER: Sonata Number 3 in G, Opus 88
1st movement –Rudolf Innig (1844 Walcker/Sankt Maria Pfarrkirche, Schramberg, Germany) Dabringhaus und Grimm MDG 317 0891
2nd movement –Ludger Lohmann (1905 Link/Evangelical Church, Giengen-an-der-Brenz, Germany) Motette CD MOT 12231
3rd movement –Michael Hartmann (Vleughel/Bürgesaal Church, Munich, Germany) Antes Edition CD-31.9156

JOSEF RHEINBERGER: Fugue on B-A-C-H, Opus 123, #3 –Rudolf Innig (1888 Walcker/City Church, Winterthur, Switzerland) Dabringhaus und Grimm MDG 317 0893

JOSEF RHEINBERGER: Organ Concerto Number 2 in g, Opus 177
1st movement –Heidelberg City Orchestra, Thomas Kalb conductor; Martin Haselböck (1903 Voit/Heidelberg City Hall, Germany) New Classical Adventure CD-96.12.826
2nd movement –Cantata Orchestra Tübingen, Bernhard Ader, conductor; Wolfram Rehfeldt (1979 Sandtner/Dom Sankt Martin, Rottenburg-am-Neckar, Germany) Bayer CD-100074
3rd movement –Lausitzer Philharmonic, Dieter Kempe, conductor; Hans-Dieter Karras (1930 Schuster/St. John Church, Zittau, Germany) Prospect CD-202593

Rheinberger was particularly influential upon the American scene, since among his successful composition students were Horatio Parker, who later taught at Yale, where CHARLES IVES was a pupil and George Whitefield Chadwick who taught at the New England Conservatory.