Rathgeber was a Benedictine monk in Banz who published much sacred choral music. Dr. Henderson reports in "A Directory of Composers for Organ" (a comprehensive book of organ repertoire, biographies, and publishers, available from OHS), "At one time he left the monastery without permission to study music. On his return he was for a while imprisoned for this appalling sin." His op. 2 of 1743 contains 59 keyboard pieces including Christmas Pastorales. This volume contains eight of them. |