Joseph Rheinberger was born in 1839 at the court of the Prince of Liechtenstein, where his father was a treasurer. Joseph was taught by a local music teacher. At the age of seven he was organist at St. Florianskirche in his hometown. It was not until 1851 that his father gave him permission to study in Munich. Rheinberger lived in this place until his death in 1901. In our time, Rheinberger is best
… known as a composer of 20 sonatas for organ. Nevertheless, Rheinberger was not exclusively known in his day as a composer of organ sonatas: he was well known as a composition teacher and composer of operas, orchestral works, church music and chamber music, etc. His work was performed all over Europe. It is not inconceivable that when writing the finale of his fourth symphony Brahms was inspired by the passacaglia from Rheinberger's eighth organ sonata. Hyperion released a CD with the "Suite für Orgel, Violine und Cello, op.149" and "Sechs Stücke für Violine und Orgel, op.150", played by the organist Christopher Herrick, the violinist Paul Barritt and the cellist Richard Lester . (HJ) _more
