Sonata on the 94th Psalm
by Julius Reubke
Composed in 1857, when the composer was just 22 years old, and premiered at Merseburg Cathedral on 16 June 1857, the Organ Sonata on the 94th Psalm is one of the supreme masterpieces of the Romantic organ repertoire and a work of astonishing maturity for so young a composer. A student of Liszt at Weimar, Reubke created a single-movement symphonic poem for organ drawing on the penitential text of the 94th Psalm, employing Liszt's technique of thematic transformation to generate a vast, continuously evolving structure of extraordinary dramatic power and harmonic boldness. The sonata stands as the greatest Romantic organ work alongside the Franck Chorale in E major and the Liszt Prelude and Fugue on BACH, and is heard at major international organ competitions worldwide. Reubke died the following year, aged only 24, leaving this extraordinary work as his sole organ composition.
Editions
Breitkopf & Härtel
Adolf Hammerich, 1871
First published edition, appearing thirteen years after the composer's death; the primary historical source text.
Breitkopf & Härtel
Walter Emery, 1958
Revised scholarly edition incorporating corrections and updated registration suggestions; long the standard international performing text.
Carus-Verlag
Christoph Albrecht, 1987
Critical edition with extensive commentary on sources and registration; the preferred scholarly and performing text for contemporary organists.