Joseph Gabriel Rheinberger, the composer, was born in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, in 1839, and began organ lessons at age five, serving as organist in Vaduz two years later.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Rheinberger's organ works, while echoing composers like Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, and J. S. Bach, showcase his unique melodic sense, harmonic development, and clear textures.
Compositional Technique
Rheinberger's Prelude and Fugue in C minor, JWV 16, written during his student years, is one of three pieces dedicated to his organ teacher, Johann Georg Herzog, and features traditional contrapuntal devices like inversion, augmentation, and stretto.
Recording & Production
All eight volumes of Rheinberger's Organ Works, including this one, were recorded on the 72-stop, four-manual Rieger-Sauer Organ in Fulda Cathedral, Germany.
Composer Biography
Rheinberger was appointed to the staff of the Munich Conservatory in 1859, first as a piano teacher and later as a teacher of theory, organ, and composition, a position he held until his death in 1901.
Performer Biography
Wolfgang Rübsam, the organist on this recording, is internationally known for over a hundred acclaimed recordings of organ repertoire and was Professor of Church Music and Organ at Northwestern University for 23 years.
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