Cantilena from Organ Sonata No. 11 by Josef Rheinberger (1839-1901)

Josef Gabriel Rheinberger (1839–1901) was an organist and composer, born in Liechtenstein and resident for most of his life in Germany. J. Weston Nicholl declared in the Grove Dictionary of Music that Rheinberger’s organ sonatas were undoubtedly the most valuable addition to organ music since the time of Mendelssohn. They are characterized by a happy blending of the modern Romantic spirit with masterly counterpoint and dignified organ style. This Cantilena (op. 148) makes a great piece of wedding or service music and is played here by Geoff Olson, organist of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in St. Paul, MN. The organ is a 30-rank Wicks/Hunt pipe organ, supplemented with a Hauptwerk virtual organ system, using the 65-stop 1877 Father Willis Organ at Salisbury Cathedral, England. To listen to more of my organ videos, go to Hope you enjoy this piece and thanks for listening.