Est 1923

Rheinberger Organ Works, Vol 1

Definitely a disc for Rheinberger aficionados, but others may be won over by playing of such musical integrity from Rubsam

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger

Label: Naxos

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 67

Mastering:

DDD

Catalogue Number: 8 554212

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Organ Sonata No. 1 Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger, Composer
Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger, Composer
Wolfgang Rübsam, Organ
Organ Sonata No. 2 Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger, Composer
Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger, Composer
Wolfgang Rübsam, Organ
Organ Sonata No. 3 in G, 'Pastorale' Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger, Composer
Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger, Composer
Wolfgang Rübsam, Organ
Organ Sonata No. 4 Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger, Composer
Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger, Composer
Wolfgang Rübsam, Organ
' Heavyweight' is the word that springs most readily to mind here. Rheinberger's 20 organ sonatas have moments of impressive power and intensity - moments from which Rubsam in these solid and dependable performances most certainly does not shy away - but they also have vast swathes of dreary and turgid music which are in no way alleviated by the somewhat thick and weighty-toned Reiger of Fulda Cathedral.
With the possible exception of the exuberant Fugue from the Third Sonata - to my way of thinking one of Rheinberger's more attractive creations - Rubsam's performances are devoid of the strange mannerisms and rhythmic contortions that have so affected his Bach cycle for Naxos. Here is playing of stature and musical integrity, with barely a single contentious interpretative gesture: it is totally fitting that in so important a recording project as Naxos's huge 'Organ Encyclopaedia' such a significant part of the repertory is treated in such a worthy manner. And while Rubsam certainly does not convert me to Rheinberger (in case you haven't guessed - he is not one of my favourite composers) I would wholeheartedly recommend these recordings not only to those Rheinberger aficionados who hang so avidly on every note he wrote but to those, like myself, who appreciate and value the contribution he made to organ literature and for whom this disc will prove an invaluable source of reference.
I read that Rubsam acted as engineer and producer as well as performer. In all three capacities he has done an excellent job. Perhaps in future he might like to write his own notes too; the ones here make for difficult reading.'

Rheinberger Organ Works, Vol 1

Organ Sonata No. 1

Organ Sonata No. 2

Organ Sonata No. 3 in G, 'Pastorale'

Organ Sonata No. 4

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