Masses by Josef Gabriel Rheinberger

Rheinberger’s seventeen mass settings with opus numbers are distinguished by their great variety: there are works for equal and mixed voices, smaller masses for a cappella choir or with organ accompaniment, and finally two major compositions for solo voices, chorus and orchestra. The latter include the Mass in C major op. 169, in which Rheinberger succeeded in exemplary fashion in reconciling the demands of restoring church music with his personal style. One of the most beautiful unaccompanied masses of the 19th century is his Mass in E flat major op. 109 (Cantus Missae) for two four-part choirs, for which Rheinberger was honored by Pope Leo XIII with the Order of St Gregory. Its special character derives from his drawing on the compositional techniques of classical vocal polyphony in combination with functional harmony, and expressive, cantabile part-writing. The masses for equal voices also include works of exceptional sonorous beauty and high compositional quality, such as the Masses in G minor op. 187 and F major op. 190.