The tiny Principality of Liechtenstein has produced some notable persons over the years. Such personages have included Peter Kaiser, the principality's great historian and statesman, the various princes from Anton Florian to the present ruling Prince, several prime ministers who had successfully guided their little country through two world wars and numerous economic crisis over the years and Joseph Gabriel Rheinberger, Liechtenstein's most famous composer.
Joseph Rheinberger was born the son of the Prince of Liechtenstein's treasurer on March 17 1839 in the capitol village of Vaduz. At the age of five, he took organ lessons and proved so talented that he became, at seven years old, the organist in the Vaduz church. Jospeh, at the age of eight, composed a mass for three voices. He went on to study music under Choir-master Schmutzer in Feldkirch until he moved to Munich in 1851. There, at the Munich Conservatory, he studied composition, theory and organ under Franz Lachner until 1854. Rheinberger earned his living as an organist, teacher and prolific composer until 1859 when he was appointed professor of music and organ theory at the conservatory. He held this position until shortly before his passing at Munich, 25 Nov., 1901. In his spare time, Rheinberger was an organist at the court Church of St. Michael, instructor of the solo artists at the royal opera and conductor of the Munich Oratorio Society.
In forty years of teaching he received many honors. He was named a Royal professor in 1867 and was appointed an Inspector of the recently established Royal School of Music now known as Royal Academy of Music. The year 1877 saw Joseph Rheinberger promoted to the illustrious position of Royal Court Conductor in charge of music in the Royal Chapel. The Prince of Liechtenstein honored with the title of nobility. That same year he was given an honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree by the University of Munich in present day Germany.
During his life, Joesph Reinberger composed over two hundred musical works, of which twenty organ sonatas, four operas and numerous church and chamber music are the most remembered. He was a friend of Franz Liszt as well as being a mentor to such composers as Engelbert Humperdinck and Wilhelm Furtwängler. His works are, today, performed worldwide. He was known as a consummate composer and musician, an ideal teacher of composition, and one of the most worthiest of musicians and human beings. The people of Liechtenstein are right to be proud of one of their favorite "sons!"
