J. Rheinberger | Cantilene from Organ Sonata No.11 arr. classical guitar quartet
Channel: PlentyMusic
Date: 25/03/2022

This arrangement for #classicalguitar quartet of #Rheinberger’s #Cantilene from his Organ Sonata No.11 is available from PlentyMusic as a free chamber music score #sheetmusic link: https://plentymusic.uk/short/?c=zQA5MrV   To access this and other free #sheetmusic scores create a PlentyMusic account. Improve #musicpractice routines using PlentyMusic sheet music and accompaniment downloads.

Composer
Rheinberger was a prolific composer and made a significant contribution to the organ music repertoire. Born in Liechtenstein he spent most of his life in Germany. He was also a distinguished teacher from the years he spent in Munich and Richard Strauss was just one of many distinguished pupils. J.G. Rheinberger is a name familiar to organists but like many church composers his music is not widely known outside the music world in which he worked. 

Historical Context
The Cantilena is the second movement of Rheinberger’s Organ Sonata No. 11 in D minor published as his Opus 148. The work was composed in 1888. Rheinberger was particularly influenced by J.S. Bach, F. Mendelssohn, R. Schumann and J. Brahms in his compositional approach. While the piece is reminiscent of Bach’s Arioso style the strong chromatic element in the writing belongs very much to its time identified as the late romantic period in music history. 

Score Detail
A beautifully crafted score this is really a late 19th century manifestation of a Bach chorale harmonisation with the influence of the chromatic harmony of Brahms. In this arrangement the music has been transposed up a tone from the key of F to the key of G. Apart from the beauty of the melody the counterpoint, particularly in the inner parts of the accompaniment, is a joy to explore. There are few dynamic markings in the score which is actually very untypical of music scores of the time. The realisation plays back at 84 eighth note beats to the minute.  Guitarists should play with an awareness of an eighth note or quaver pulse. Performers would be wise to study the harmonic outline and examine the voice leading in the individual parts. Careful attention needs to be paid to the accidentals and tied notes in the score. The music scores available are often contradictory particularly in respect to the tied notes in the inner parts.

Social Context
Cantilena is an Italian/Latin word suggesting both lullaby and song. 

Dynamics
A movement that is intended to be played in a quiet and sustained manner.

Performance Tips
The melody needs to be played with a legato whilst the bass line is played with a detached or staccato touch.

Rhythmic Patterns & Shapes 
The melody explores several rhythmic motifs often with tied notes. Much of the writing features off-beat rhythms related to the resolving of the dissonances in the inner parts.

Stylistic Influences
The influence of the Bach 4 part chorale harmonisation is paramount together with the chromatic harmony that suggests the influence of J. Brahms.

Additional Information
There are several arrangements available from the PlentyMusic website for both ensembles and solo instruments with piano accompaniment.