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Mass In C, Op. 169: Conductor Score

$45.00 USD
$45.00 USD
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Mass In C, Op. 169 Cover Image
Mass In C, Op. 169: Conductor Score

Mass In C, Op. 169: Conductor Score

By Josef Rheinberger

Item: 36-A270701
$45.00
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Description
While Josef Rheinberger composed a significant number of works for worship, his MASS IN C MAJOR, Op. 169 for soloists, mixed chorus and orchestra is the only mass to include orchestral accompaniment.  The MASS IN C may be performed authentically in two ways:  a) with full orchestra (1.2.2.2: 2.2.3.0: Timp: Str [9-8-7-6-5 in set], but without organ) or b) with string orchestra and organ, the organ being a substitute for the winds. The string parts in the two versions are identical. The organ part is included in the full set item to give flexibility to the ensemble depending on instrumentation plans. In addition Rheinberger recommended that the trombones should be added to the orchestra only if the choir is large.

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Additional Details
Series: Kalmus Choral Library
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
ISBN10: 1-63-887293-7
ISBN13: 978-1-63-887293-1
UPC: 660355045677
SKU: 36-A270701
Instrumentation: (2, 2, 2, 2 - 2, 2, 3, 0, timp), org, str (2.2.1.1.1), solo SATB, mx chor

More about this title

About the Composer: Josef Rheinberger

Josef Rheinberger (1839–1901) was a Swiss composer and organist whose prolific output spanned sacred and secular genres. He held the position of professor of composition at the Munich Conservatory for over three decades, shaping generations of composers through both his teaching and his own compositional models. His sacred music, particularly his masses and organ works, remain central to the choral and liturgical repertoire.

Rheinberger's approach to sacred music combined Romantic lyricism with structural clarity rooted in the classical tradition. His ability to write idiomatically for both singers and instrumentalists made his liturgical works accessible to churches of varying resources, a practical consideration that defined much of his output. The Mass in C, Op. 169 stands as his most ambitious sacred work, representing the culmination of his thinking about how to balance vocal and orchestral forces in the service of the liturgy.

Why we love this

Rheinberger gives you genuine orchestral color without requiring a full symphony orchestra. The flexibility to perform with either full winds and brass or strings with organ means you can mount an authentic, sonically complete performance whether your ensemble is a cathedral music program or a chamber setting. The writing sits comfortably in singers' voices while allowing the orchestra to provide real textural sophistication.

What to expect

Rheinberger's Mass unfolds with the reverence of Romantic sacred music, moving between luminous moments of lyrical singing and passages of architectural grandeur. The orchestration, whether lush with winds or intimate with strings and organ, never overshadows the words, instead creating an atmosphere of dignity and spiritual reflection that honors both tradition and 19th-century musical taste.

Who it's for

This conductor score serves liturgical musicians, chamber orchestra directors, and choral conductors who work in worship settings or concert contexts where orchestral accompaniment enhances the mass ordinary. It demands a conductor comfortable with both choral blend and orchestral balance, and ensemble resources flexible enough to accommodate multiple instrumentation options.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the soloists against the full chorus in the choruses. Rheinberger writes them both with considerable independence; the soloists should cut through without the choir overwhelming them or vice versa.
  • When using organ as a substitute for winds, the organist becomes the harmonic and rhythmic anchor. Establish clear communication about continuo support and harmonic filler, especially during long string passages.
  • Hold back on the trombones in sections where the choir carries the musical argument. Rheinberger's note about adding trombones only for large choirs reflects the weight they carry; use them strategically for the most climactic moments.
  • Shape the string writing with attention to doublings and inner-voice movement. The orchestration often relies on subtle counterpoint rather than obvious doubling; let the individual lines breathe.

How to use it

This mass works as a concert centerpiece for a spring or Easter program, or as the centerpiece of a liturgical celebration. Its modest length and flexible instrumentation also make it feasible for cathedral music programs that want to perform a complete mass ordinary without the demands of a Mozart or Beethoven setting.

Skills your students will build

  • Conducting choral and orchestral forces simultaneously
  • Balancing soloists against full choir in liturgical context
  • Understanding orchestration choices and their relationship to text
  • Flexible instrumentation and making practical choices based on available resources
  • Reading and realizing an organ part that functions as harmonic support
  • Phrasing text-driven sacred music across multiple voice parts

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