Organ Concertos nos. 1 and 2

Josef Rheinberger

Josef Gabriel Rheinberger (1835-1901) showed great talent at an early age and was organist at his parish church at age 7. As a young man, he attended the Munich Conservatorium where he eventually became professor of piano and composition.

Rheinberger was great influenced by his contemporary, Brahms, and earlier composers, such as Mendelssohn, Schumann and J. S. Bach.

A distinguished teacher, his students included Richard Strauss as well as American composers, Horatio Parker and George Whitefield Chadwick.

Rheinberger was a prolific composer (including a number of excellent choral works) but is best remembered for his elaborate and challenging organ compositions, including a vast collection of sonatas and two concertos. His music is characterized by the then modern Romantic spirit combining well-crafted counterpoint with a dignified organ style.

Rheinberger died in 1901 at age 62.

Organ Concerto no. 1 in F (Organ Strings and Horns) by Josef Rheinberger

Organ Concerto no. 1 in F (Organ Strings and Horns) by Josef Rheinberger

Organ Concerto no. 1 in F (Organ Strings and Horns) by Josef Rheinberger

Includes 3 files:MP4 file with visual and aural click track; MP4 file with visual click track only; PDF score for practice

Organ Concerto no. 2 in G Minor (Organ, Strings, Brass, and Tympani) by Josef Rheinberger

Organ Concerto no. 2 in G Minor (Organ, Strings, Brass, and Tympani) by Josef Rheinberger

Organ Concerto no. 2 in G Minor (Organ, Strings, Brass, and Tympani) by Josef Rheinberger

Includes 3 files:MP4 file with visual and aural click track; MP4 file with visual click track only; PDF score for practice

Notes regarding the Concerto no. 1

Included with the Concerto no. 1 are two cadenzas both composed by Rheinberger. Within the Video Sheet Music framework, the easiest way to exercise the cadenza option, is to pause the video file where indicated, play one of the Cadenzas from a separate supplied PDF file and, on completion, restart the video file. (The smaller of the two cadenzas is on a single sheet and the most practical, under the circumstances).