Josef Rheinberger - Passacaglia (Organ Sonata No. 8 in E minor) - Ben Bloor

Passacaglia, the 4th and final movement from Organ Sonata No. 8 in E minor by Josef Rheinberger performed by Ben Bloor on the 1993 48-stop Klais organ of Sinfonia Smith Square (formerly St John's Smith Square), London in a live recital on Thursday 17th October 2024.

Josef Rheinberger is perhaps Leichtenstein's most famous composer, though he spent most of his life in Germany. He wrote 20 organ sonatas, all in different keys, sadly dying before being able to lay claim to having composed a full set of 24 in every key. Each one has a distinctive personality - stylistically, they toe the line between conservative romanticism and rigidly watertight counterpoint to produce something wholly satisfying to play and listen to.

Sonata No. 8 in E minor is mostly known for this famous passacaglia. Rheinberger ekes out the full potential of this ground bass theme in creative ways, always carrying the listening ear along for the journey. It ends in the same way the whole sonata started, with a flattened 9th tonic major chord, a fitting dramatic chord to summarise the tension present in the previous 9 minutes of music.

Many thanks to Roger Sayer for the invitation to play at Sinfonia Smith Square.

Ben Bloor is Organist at the London Oratory Church and School Organist at Westminster School. For more information, please visit https://www.benbloor.com

Tipjar - https://tpjr.us/chiffchat
Twitter - Ben Bloor:   / benjybloor  
Facebook - Ben Bloor Organist:   / benbloororganist  
Tiktok - @bloorganist:   / bloorganist  
Website - https://www.benbloor.com/