Grove's dictionary of music and musicians

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. Fantasia,
.
. 7
. Ist
, 4
, 'Aus
, 7
. 5
. 'Daughter
, Prelude
. Trio,
. Hymn
, 9
, 'Poor
. Quartet,
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6
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5
. Etude
. Capriccio
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3
, 2
, 'Passion
. Symphonic
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4
. 10
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Ballad,
. Improvisation
. 6
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3
. 4
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RHEINBERGER RHEINBERGER 85
Rheinberger's twenty organ sonatas are undoubtedly
the most valuable addition to organ
music since the time of Mendelssohn, and it is
probably upon the artistic worth of these works
that his position as a composer ultimately
depends. They are characterised by a happy
blending of the modern romantic spirit with
masterly counterpoint and dignified organ style.
As perfect examples of organ sonata form they
are probably unrivalled. With the object of
obtaining external and material relationship
between the chief movements, Rheinberger
generally introduced as a coda to his finale a
brief summary of one or more of the chief subjects
of the first movement. Another device
with the same object in view—the unifying of
the sonata—was the re-introduction, generally
with fine artistic effect, of a first -movement
subject as an integral part of the last movement.
An instance of this procedure is found in
Sonata No. 9 in B flat minor (op. 142). Here
the principal subject of the first movement is
re-introduced in the finale as the second subject
and developed in connection with the fugal
subject of this last movement. Similar examples
of this method are found in Sonatas No. 16 (op.
175) and No. 17 (op. 181). Throughout the
whole of the organ sonatas there is a constant
flow of beautiful ideas, though a considerable
distance separates his best and weakest movements.
There is occasionally a tendency to prolong
some of the movements, considering the
materials upon which they are built. The two
concertos for organ and orchestra show real
breadth of treatment and a freedom of manipulation
that appeal strongly to the musical
sense.
Rheinberger was not much in sympathy with
modern art. He strongly disapproved of
Wagner's methods and theories. In the antechamber
of his class-room were lying one day
the opened scores of Lohengrin * ' and Ber
'
Freischiitz/ the former on the top of the latter.
As Rlieinberger passed through, he glanced at
the books, and then with a gesture full of
meaning, as if to say,
* This is how it ought to
be,' pulled out the 'Freischiitz' and placed it
on the top. In his later years Rheinberger
suffered from a chronic lung disease contracted
by excessive exposure when making a mountain
tour in the Tyrol. His constant ill-health and
naturally austere, retiring disposition precluded
much personal intercourse with the outside
world. Towards his pupils he was invariably
exacting and often severe, but his musical
genius and commanding personality never failed
to compel their respect.
Rheinberger's individuality is faithfully reflected
in his compositions. Thoroughness and
unpretentiouaness are qualities equally eharacteristic
of the artist and of his work. His
musical themes are for the most part of great
beauty. Much of his work, however, betrays
a lack of strong impassioned enthusiasm, and
seldom, if ever, attains to that degree of exalted
musical inspiration which marks the finest
creations of a great genius.
CATALOGUE OF EHEINBERGBE'S COMPOSITIONS
Op.
. 4 Pieces, pf.
74. 5 Hale choruses.
. 5 Fart-BongB.
*75. 2 Vocal quartets, with pf.
. 7 Songs.
•76. '
Toggenburg,' soli, chorus,
. 5 Songs.
andpf.
. 3 Small pf . pieces.
77. Sonata, vln. and pf., or
. 3 Studies, pf.
. 3 Characteristic pieces, pf.
. 'WaldmKrchen,' pf.
. 5 Studies, pf.
. 'Wallenstein,' symphony.
. 5 Pieces, pf.
. Toccata, pf.
Tai-antella,' pt., 4 hands.
. 21 Preludes, pt.
. Duo, 2 pfs.
Stabat Hater,' soli, chorus,
and' orch.
. 2 Four-part Ballads.
, Overture, 'Taming of the
Shrew.'
. Toccatina, pf.
'
Die Sieben Kahen,' romantic
opera in 3 acts.
. 'Wasserfee,' vocal quartet
and pf.
. 4 Songs.
pf.
T'cello and pf.
78. 3 Pf. pieces.
79. Fantasia, orch. or pf., 4
hands.
80. 5 Part-Bongs.
81. 'Die todte Braut,' romance,
mezzo-soprano, choir, and
orch., or pf,
82. String quintet, in A minor
(or pf. duet).
83. Missa brevis in I> minor,
choir.
84. ttequiem in E flat, choir.
85. 7 Male choruses.
86. 4 Epic songs, male choir.
87. Symphony ('Florentine') in
F,
88. 3rd Organ sonata ('Pastoral
') in G (or pf. duet).
89. String quartet in C minor.
90. 'Vom Rheine,' G male
choruses.
91. '
Johannisnacht,' male choir
and p£.
92. Sunata, pf. and T'cello, in O
(or vln. andpf.).
. 4 Vocal quartets.
'
Lockung,' vocal quartet
andpf.
Songs.
Organ Sonata, in C
minor.
Humoresken, pf.
(or pt duet).
Italien,' 3 pf. pieces. 94. Concerto, pf . and orch. in A
Pf . duets (from the music
flat.
Chonises to 'Der Wunderthatige 95. 2 with orch. or pf
Magus').
96. 3 lAtin hymns, three-part
Part songs.
female choir and organ.
of Jairus,' cantata
•97. Ballad, 'Chirioe of Elwr-
for children.
stein,' soli, chorus, and
and fugue, pf.
orch.
pf . "and strings.
for female choir,
4th Or^Ji sonata, 'tonus
peregrinus,' in A minor (or
organ, and harp.
pf. duet).
Duets, pf. (from the music
I. Pf. sonata in D flat.
100. 7 Songs, male choir.
to 'Die unheilbringende
Krone ').
101. 3 Studies, pf.
Henry,* comic opera 102. Ballad. 'Wittekiud,' maJe
for children.
chorus and orch., or pf.
pf. and strings, in 103. 3 Vocal duets, sop., bass,
Eflat.
and pf.
Pf. pieces, in fugal form. 104. Toccata, pf.
Motets, choir.
105. Sonata, vln. and pf., in E
minor.
and fugato, pf.
106. 2 Romantic songs, choir and
giocoao, pf.
orch., or pt.
Male choruses.
107. 5 Hymns for choir.
Pf. studies on a theme by 108. 'Am Strom,'6 part-fiODgs.
Handel.
109. Mass in E flat for double
Music,' choir and
choir, ded. to Leo XIII.
oi^n.
110. Ovei-ture to Schiller's 'Demetrius
sonata, pt.
' (or pf. duet).
Male choruses.
111. 6th Organ sonata in F sharp
Organ trios.
(or pf. duet).
93. Theme and TariationB.
string quartet in O minor
'Das Thai des Espingo,'
male chorus and in A.
112. 2Dd Trio, pf., Tin. and v'cello,
orch.
113. 6 Studies for pf. (left hand).
on a theme 114. Quintet, pf. and strings, in C.
from Die 115. Toccata, pf. in C minor.
' ZauberfliJte,' pi
Fart-Bonf^.
116. 4 Songs, male choir.
Studies, pf.
117. 'Missa Sanctiflfiimic Trinitatis,'
choir, in F.
Hymns, mezzo-soprano and
organ, orpf.
118. 6 Two-part hymns, with
55. 8 Songs.
organ.
Vocal quartets, with 119. 6th Organ sonata, in E flat
strings and pf
minor (or pf. duetj.
•120. Legend,
'
Christophome,*
6 Hymns, choir.
Pf. study.
Bequiem, soli, chorus, and
orch.
Theme and variations, pf
Mass for one voice and organ.
8 Part-songs.
female choruses, with pf . .
2Dd Organ sonata in A flat.
3 Studies, pi
soli, chorus, and orch., or
pf.
121. Trio, pf. and strings, in B
flat.
122. Sonata,Cminor,pl,4hand8
(or 2 pfs., 8 hands).
123. 24 Fughetten for organ.
'
May Day,' 5 iJiree-part 124. 8 Part-songs.
125. 7"M8te-