Josef Gabriel Rheinberger

Sacred choral works without opus numbers

In March 1855, shortly before his 16th birthday, Josef Gabriel Rheinberger composed one of his most successful pieces, the Abendlied, Op. 69/3. Yet it was to be another 18 years before he published this early masterpiece. In fact, Rheinberger left most of his youthful works to gather dust, including symphonic works, chamber music, songs, operas and choral works. This new volume, which spotlights the composer’s unique qualities, presents a selection of sacred works for choir with organ or a cappella drawn from this large part of Rheinberger's oeuvre.

There are many exciting discoveries to be made, including carefully crafted liturgical works of great beauty and displaying skilled polyphonic writing, a sacred cantata as well as an early version of the Abendlied. All pieces are now available for the first time in critical editions. The centerpiece of the collection is the four-part Mass in E-flat major, JWV 57, which Rheinberger composed in 1856. The volume also features a series of works without opus numbers from Rheinberger’s time as a highly respected professor of counterpoint in Munich, including pieces written for his students and the Bavarian Court Chapel as well as more modest works for church choir.

> Mostly Latin texts
> Wide liturgical use: Mass, Requiem, Advent, praise and thanksgiving, Marian feasts and more general occasions
> For three-part (SSA) and more frequently four-part (SATB) choir a cappella or with organ obbligato
> All pieces also available as separate editions
> Volume also Supplement 4 of the Rheinberger Complete Edition