For most of his career Rheinberger was Kapellmeister to the Bavarian court, as Lassus had once been. Of his large body of compositions only the organ music is widely performed today, but the best of his choral work is also of high quality. Bleib bei uns is one of a set of three sacred pieces published in 1873, dedicated to a choral society in Berlin. As with the church music of his younger contemporary Stanford, academic mastery and Romantic expressiveness stand in satisfying equilibrium.

from notes by Collegium Records © 2006

Josef Rheinberger’s Abendlied sets text from Luke 24: 29. This is the same text used in the famous hymn ‘Abide with me, fast falls the eventide’. These are the words spoken by two disciples to the stranger they met on the road to Emmaus; they encourage the stranger to stay with them so that they can protect him, not knowing that he is the risen Jesus. This display of humanity and kindness is a fitting end to our exploration of the stillness and quietness of faith and contemplation.

from notes by Anna Lapwood © 2020