REINHARD: Sonatine Nr. 3, played on Mustel harmonium

August Reinhard (1831-1912) was a German composer, arranger and teacher. Among his pupils were a Prince of Wittgenstein, Paula Simon-Herlitz (daughter of Paul Simon, his publisher), and Sigfrid Karg-Elert. Reinhard gave special attention to developing a teaching method for the harmonium, which he considered as valid as, but different from, the piano and the organ. He composed many important works for harmonium as a solo instrument and in chamber music, such as his Harmonium-Schule, Op. 16, published in 1877 and dedicated to Richard Wagner. (Somewhere I have a quote from Reinhard, saying that comparing a harmonium to a pipe organ is like comparing a string quartet to a symphony orchestra: no less valid, no less musical, but a completely different concept.) Reinhard’s Drei Sonatinen, his Op. 38, were published in 1888, dedicated to his friend Fritz Trost. The third Sonatine is in A minor throughout. The first movement has an Allegretto introduction leading to an extended Poco Allegro, which is fully repeated before venturing into the major key. The second movement is a stately Saraband, and the third movement is a flashy Allegro non troppo. No stop indications are given in the score; I used only the basic 8' and 4' ranks, allowing the music to speak as clearly as possible. This score was given to me many years ago by a Belgian organist, but all three Sonatinen are now available on IMSLP. The instrument heard here is an art-harmonium built by the Mustel firm in Paris, their # 470, dated 1887, and # 4321 in the Reed Organ Society database. Performed by Michael Hendron, recorded 19 April 2024.