Album insights
Julius Reubke, born on March 23, 1834, in Hausneindorf, a village 40 kilometers southwest of Magdeburg, hailed from a musical family. His father, a noted piano builder, later gained fame in organ construction, particularly for his large instruments created for St. Jakobi Church and Magdeburg Cathedral in the 1850s. Julius was the eldest of three brothers. Emil (*1836) joined his father's organ building business, while Otto (*1842) excelled as a pianist and organist, studying under Hans von Bülow at the Stern Conservatory in Berlin, later becoming a renowned choral conductor.
In 1851, Julius Reubke embarked on studies at the Berlin Music School founded by Julius Stern, learning piano from Theodor Kullak and music theory from Adolf Bernhard Marx. Kullak, a protégé of Carl Czerny and Otto Nicolai, was a respected virtuoso, while Marx, editor of the Berlin music journal, befriended Mendelssohn and admired Liszt. Julius made friends with Alexander Winterberger and Hans von Bülow, both associated with Liszt. Bülow, writing to Liszt in 1853, recommended Reubke as an accomplished student eager to study further under Liszt's guidance.
Reubke's time in Berlin introduced him to Liszt's music and possibly to Liszt himself. Upon arriving in Weimar in 1853, Reubke immersed himself in the artistic circle surrounding Liszt, including von Bülow, Joachim Raff, and Peter Cornelius. Reubke's Sonata in B-flat minor, completed in spring 1857, garnered immediate acclaim. Admired by Liszt and his circle, the sonata showcased Reubke's unique blend of Lisztian influences and personal artistic expression.
The transition to the slow middle section of the sonata features contrasting dynamics and themes. Tremolos swell into fortissimo chords before giving way to the Andante sostenuto in a gentle three-beat rhythm, leading triumphantly to D major. Descending into G-flat major paves the way for the Allegro assai finale, a spirited scherzo that revisits earlier themes in tender and triumphant passages.
Although Reubke frequently performed his sonata privately among Liszt's circle, it was his brother Otto who delivered the first public performance in Karlsruhe in August 1864. Published in 1871, the sonata fell out of popularity but remained highly regarded by Liszt. Liszt, moved by a performance by his American pupil William Dayas in 1885, continued to treasure the composition.
Reubke's Organ Sonata "The 94th Psalm," completed in 1857, was a monumental work inspired by selected verses from Psalm 94. Premiered in the Merseburg Cathedral, Reubke's organ sonata showcased his compositional and performance prowess, earning critical acclaim for its dramatic depth and musical innovation.
Reubke, already battling illness, explored new musical territories, planning an opera and composing for Saint-Pierre's novel while drawing inspiration from Wagner's "Lohengrin." Despite ill health, Reubke performed in Dresden in early 1858 before passing away later that year in Pillnitz at the age of 24. Liszt, deeply affected by Reubke's untimely death, penned a heartfelt letter of condolence to Reubke's father, reflecting on Julius's youthful brilliance and legacy in the world of music.