Josef Rheinberger Gabriel - Missa Et Hymni - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Josef Rheinberger Gabriel - Missa Et Motetti [COMPACT DISCS] date 10/12/2010

On the occasion of the 300th birthday of C. P. E. Bach in 2014, this timeless recording of his popular Magnificat along with the Missa brevis of his distant relative Johann Ludwig Bach is available once more. These are brilliant recordings by Helmuth Rilling.

Franz Josef Aumann received his musical training as a choirboy in Vienna, together with Michael Haydn and Johann Georg Albrechtsberger. At the age of 25, he joined St Florian's Abbey, where he took over the choir just two years later and then directed the church music for over four decades. His church music was performed in St Florian's well into the 19th century and Anton Bruckner, who worked there for seven years as the monastery organist, greatly appreciated his works. His great Mass in C is a true 'Missa solemnis' with a magnificent orchestration of oboes, trumpets and timpani and a performance time of over 40 minutes, probably intended for special holidays. Aumann's instrumental music often has a 'twinkle in the eye' alongside virtuoso and ornate passages, the folk music of the region always shines through. This is clearly noticeable in the Cassatio 'La Pastorale', a pastoral piece for four strings and natural horn. It was performed at Schlagl Abbey at Christmas time in 1777 and must have created an exuberant, almost boisterous atmosphere.