Josef Rheinberger

Josef Gabriel (since 1894) Rheinberger ( born March 17, 1839 in Vaduz, † November 25, 1901 in Munich), christened Gabriel Joseph was born in Liechtenstein, but came up with twelve years of musical training in Munich and had to be there life as a composer and music teacher, so that he is often referred to as a German composer. He was the uncle of Egon Rheinberger.

Life

Born in Vaduz 1839 Josef Gabriel Rheinberger showed early unusual musicality. He knew already the age of seven the organist in his hometown and came up with 12 years of training at the Munich Conservatory, where he outperformed his fellow students soon and already created numerous works. Until 1854 he attended the Music School led by Franz Hauser and was designed by Johann Georg Herzog ( organ) and Julius Joseph Maier ( counterpoint) taught. Privately, he formed with Franz Lachner on. When he was 19 years old, the Conservatory offered him a lectureship for piano, later for organ and composition, which he held until shortly before his death. In the biography of Rheinberger several times the name of Martin Vogt emerges ( 1781-1854 ). In the article about Martin Vogt is the following quote: " The State Library has an extensive handwritten note band with original compositions by Martin Vogt in the transcript by Josef Gabriel Rheinberger. "

Rheinberger was one of the most successful composers of his time, approached the publisher, musicians and choirs with composition commissions. As Kapellmeister of the Bavarian King Ludwig II, he took since 1877 a central position within the Catholic church music in Germany. He composed Latin Masses and motets that were groundbreaking in their independence from the restrictive provisions of the Cecilian church music reformers of his time. He was a teacher of composition at the Munich Conservatory a capacity of international standing. Among his pupils were among many others Hans von Koessler, Engelbert Humperdinck, Ermanno Wolf- Ferrari, Joseph Renner jun., Lothar Windsperger and Wilhelm Furtwängler and a whole generation of young American composers (eg, Horatio Parker and George Chadwick ). Numerous awards, including the Knight's Cross of the papal Gregory the Great (1879 ), the Commander's Cross of the Bavarian Order of the Crown and the honorary doctorate from the University of Munich reflect the success of the native Liechtensteiners.

Since 1867 Rheinberger was with the poet Frances of Hoffnaaß ( " Fanny " ) married, wrote the lyrics for some of his vocal works ( as well as the cantata The Star of Bethlehem ).

Rheinberger was buried in the Old South Cemetery in Munich. 1949 damaged in World War II grave was moved to the cemetery of the parish of St. Florin in his hometown of Vaduz. Since 1989 Rheinberger and his wife there to rest in a grave of honor. As a reminder of the work of Rheinberger's also a monument in front of his birth house in Vaduz was created in 1940.

Importance

Rheinberger is one of the composers of the second half of the 19th century, which are increasingly returned after years of oblivion into the consciousness of music practice and music research. His extensive body of work, including published with opus numbers alone 197 works, including piano music, organ music, sacred and secular choral music, solo songs, chamber music, symphonies, concert overtures, incidental music and operas. Rheinberger was a staunch classicist, Mozart and Bach rose to his great mission statements. Even if he was not a lasting effect on the history of music, so he can read it as a great teacher and an important exponent of a diverse musical culture at the end of the Classical and Romantic era. To promote and distribute its highly versatile artist in today's cultural life, the International Josef Gabriel Rheinberger Society was founded in 2003.

Works

This list reflects only the self provided by Rheinberger with opus numbers works.

• Sacred music Cantatas, including The Star of Bethlehem Christmas Cantata, Op 164
• 14 masses, 3 requiems, 2 Stabat mater
• Motets, hymns, songs among other things, Evening Song (Op. 69, No. 3) Luke 24:29 ( "Stay with us, for it is toward evening " )

• 2 operas ( " The Seven Ravens ", Op 20, " the watchman 's daughter " op 70)
• 3 Singspiele
• 2 incidental music

• Choral ballads
• Vocal ensembles with and without accompaniment
• Mixed choirs forest and other flowers (op. 124) - Eight Songs on texts by Franz Alfred Muth

• 2 symphonies
• 3 overtures
• 4 solo concerts ( including 1 piano concerto, two organ concertos in F major, Op 137 and g minor op 177)

• String quartets, string quintets, piano trios, sonatas for solo instruments and piano among other things Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, Op 105a

• 2 Organ Concerts
• 20 organ sonatas
• 12 Fugues op 123
• 12 monologues, Op 162
• 12 meditations, Op 167
• Preludes, trios, character pieces,
• Works for violin or oboe and organ