Sonate für die Orgel, Op. 51

Josef Pembaur (20 April 1875 – 12 October 1950) was an Austrian pianist and composer.

Born in Innsbruck, Pembaur was the son of the composer and music director Josef Pembaur the Elder (1848–1923). He got his first musical education by his father. From 1893 until 1896, he studied piano at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München with Ludwig Thuille, conducting with Ludwig Abel and composition and organ with Josef Gabriel Rheinberger. He was awarded a gold medal at the final examination in 1896. From 1896 to 1901, he worked as a piano teacher at the same school.

In 1901/02, he continued his studies with Alfred Reisenauer at the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig, where he was employed as a teacher for higher piano playing. In 1912, he was appointed professor of music in Saxony. In 1921, he was appointed professor in Bavaria, but he returned to the Academy of Music in Munich and taught a master class for piano.

Pembaur also completed numerous concert tours. In Berlin he was one of the judges in the competition for the Ibach Prize.

In the spring of 1919, Pembaur submitted eight piano pieces for the Reproduktionsklavier Welte-Mignon, including two compositions by his father, probably his earliest recordings.

In 1906, he married the pianist Maria Elterich, and the two of them also performed together on two pianos.

Pembaur's brother Karl was a composer and choirmaster in Dresden.

Pembaur died in Munich at the age of 75.

The organ sonata was published in 1893, although it sounded much earlier in style to me. It is dedicated to Paul Homeyer (1853-1908).

The three movements are: "Andante con moto", "Moderato arioso", and "Allegro."

The timings for the individual movements are:

0:00 - Andante con moto
5:04 - Moderato arioso
9:00 - Allegro

Please see the FIRST COMMENT for musical notes and some observations.

The score is attached below as well as several photos of Josef Pembaur and one of the dedicatee, Paul Homeyer.