Carus the specialist music publisher and choral
music label continue their survey of Rheinberger’s sacred choral
music. For the majority of music-lovers the prolific Rheinberger
remains a footnote in music history. Popular music books
The
Gramophone Classical Music Guide and
The Rough Guide
to Classical Music do not even consider Rheinberger worthy
of inclusion.
He was born in Liechtenstein as his father was the Treasurer to the Crown Prince in the Principality. He spent virtually all of his working life in Munich teaching there for over forty years both at the Music Conservatorium and the Hochschule für Musik und Theater. He also served as Bavarian Court Kapellmeister and was director of the Court Chapel of All Saints in Munich.
Although hugely respected in his day Rheinberger is one of a group of composers of the Austro-German school active in the second half of the nineteenth century. These figures include Karl Goldmark, Theodor Kirchner, Heinrich von Herzogenberg and Robert Fuchs – all inevitably overshadowed by Liszt, Wagner, Bruckner and Brahms.
His prolific output is most likely to be encountered in the genre of sacred choral music or organ works. Liturgical music was by no means his only favoured genre. He wrote two symphonies, a piano concerto, several concert overtures, a couple of operas
Die sieben Raben and
Türmers Töchterlein and a quantity of Lieder. With regard to his chamber music I have attended recitals of his Sextet for piano and winds and the Nonet for wind and strings.
Biographer J. Weston Nicholl writes favourably of Rheinberger’s choral works, “His twelve Masses, Stabat Mater, De Profundis and many other examples of church music are marked by earnestness and deep religious feeling.” (
Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 1908 Edition, Volume 4, pg. 84)
The opening work on the disc is the
Mass in A minor, Op. 197 for mixed choir and organ. This was the last of his fourteen masses for use in the Roman Catholic service. Composed in 1901 it
was left incomplete at the composer’s death. Only the
Kyrie,
Gloria and some of the
Credo were finished. Subsequently part of the
Credo was discovered in Rheinberger’s sketches allowing the movement to be reconstructed.
Louis Adolph Coerne, a pupil of Rheinberger, composed the
Sanctus,
Benedictus and
Agnus Dei. In the
Agnus Dei Coerne cleverly restates thematic material from the
Kyrie. Splendidly sung the glorious opening
Kyrie is one of Rheinberger’s finest inspirations. Rainer Oster plays the impressive organ part with considerable assurance. The liner-notes state that this is the first performance of the score.
Composed in 1881 the
Four Motets, Op. 133 are designed for
a cappella 6-part choir. The
Five Hymns, Op.107 for
a cappella 4-part choir were mainly written in 1877. It seems that the first three hymns have not been recorded previously. Written in 1881/90 the final work on the disc is the
Five Motets, Op. 163 for 5-part choir. The second and third motets are evidently receiving their premiere recordings.
The fifty-strong Saarbrücken Chamber Choir was established in 1990 by its music director Georg Grün. They seem eminently suited to these refreshing Rheinberger scores providing attractive performances that are both characterful and responsive. I was especially taken with the choir’s unity, clarity of diction and the high degree of reverence for the sacred texts. Congratulations are in order for their scrupulous preparation, marked attention to detail and admirable singing.
Recorded at two locations the Carus engineers are to be praised for providing a clear and well balanced sound quality. The
Mass in A has the benefit of being recorded in a resonant ecclesiastical setting with the organ sounding just superb. In the remaining scores the firmer acoustic of the Großer Sendesaal, Saarbrücken provides an impressive balance. The booklet contains an informative essay. It is good to see that full texts are provided with English translations.
The Saarbrücken Chamber Choir make a strong case for encouraging a wider audience for these sacred scores.
Michael Cookson
Saarbrücken Chamber Choir/Georg Grün 
