Rheinberger's Sonata No. 3 for organ is one of his more widely performed works, able to stand nearly with the more popular Eighth (1882) and Fourth (1876). It was conceived on a more modest scale than either of these later siblings and is much shorter too, lasting about 14 or 15 minutes. It also has a more youthful character, even though it was composed just a year before the grandiose Fourth. Not that it contains mostly light music: Rheinberger aims for a pastoral, serene sort of effect in the first two movements, but a grander one in the finale.

The opening panel, Pastorale, is lively but unhurried in its bucolic character. The main theme is happy and serene, and the whole movement conveys a carefree sense, a feeling of contentedness. The second movement, Intermezzo, at less than three minutes, is peaceful in its heavenly solemnity and upper-register sonorities. The finale is the most substantial movement, both in content and length, lasting about seven or eight minutes. It is a lively Fugue whose heroic main theme; brilliant keyboard writing; and glorious, powerful close elevate the music to masterpiece level.

© Robert Cummings, All Music Guide