Max Reger (1873-1916); DEU

Reger, (Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) (b Brand, 1873; d Leipzig, 1916). Ger. composer, pianist, organist, and teacher. Wrote most of his org. works by 1900, finding devoted interpreter in Karl Straube. Lived in Munich from 1901, teaching at Acad. of Mus. 1905-6. Dir. of mus. and prof. of comp., Leipzig Univ. 1907-11. Cond., Meiningen Orch. 1911-14. Toured Europe and Russia as organist. Was opponent of ‘programme’ mus. and comp. only in ‘absolute’ forms. Master of polyphony and developed complex harmonic procedures. Prolific composer, chief works incl.:

ORCH.: 2 Romances, vn., orch. (1900); Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Beethoven (1915, arr. of 2-pf. work 1904); Sinfonietta in A (1904-5); Serenade in G (1905-6); Variations and Fugue on a Theme of J. A. Hiller (1907); vn. conc. in A (1907-8); Symphonic Prologue for a Tragedy in A minor (1908); pf. conc. in F minor (1910); Comedy Overture (1911); Concerto in Olden Style (1912); Romantic Suite, after Eichendorff (1912); 4 Böcklin Tone-Pictures (1913); Ballet Suite in D (1913); Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Mozart (1914, arr. for 2 pf. 1914).

CHORAL: Hymne an den Gesang, male ch., orch. (1898); 7 Male Choruses (1899); 4 Cantatas (1903-5); 10 Gesänge, male vv. (1904, 1909); Psalm 100, ch., orch., org. (1908-9); Geistliche Gesänge, 5 vv. (1912); Die Weihe der Nacht, male vv., orch. (1911); Römischer Triumphgesang, male vv., orch. (1912).

VOCAL: An die Hoffnung, alto, orch. or pf. (1912); Hymnus der Liebe, bar. or alto, orch. (1914); 12 Sacred Songs, v., pf. or org. or harmonium (1914); also over 250 solo songs, 12 of them with orch. acc.

CHAMBER MUSIC: 6 str. qts. (1888-9, 1900 (2), 1903-4, 1909, 1911); 2 pf. quintets (1897-8, 1901-2); 9 vn. sonatas (1890, 1891, 1892, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1910, 1911, 1915); 3 vc. sonatas (1898, 1904, 1910); 11 sonatas for solo vn. (1900 (4), 1905 (7)); 3 cl. sonatas (1900 (2), 1908-9); 2 pf. qts. (1910, 1914); str. sextet (1910); cl. quintet (1915);

PIANO: 12 Waltz-Caprices, duet (1892); 7 Waltzes (1893); Lose Blätter (1894); 6 Morceaux (1898); 7 Fantasie-Stücke (1898); 7 Charakterstücke (1899); 6 Intermezzi (1900); 7 Silhouettes (1900); 12 Blätter und Blüten (1900-2); 10 Pieces (1901-3); Variations and Fugue on a Theme of J. S. Bach (1904); Aus meinen Tagebuch (35 little pieces) (1904-12); Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Beethoven, 2 pf. (1904, orch. 1915); 4 Pieces (1901-6); 4 Sonatinas (1905, 1908); Introduction, Passacaglia, and Fugue, 2 pf. (1906); Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Mozart, 2 pf. (1914, arr. of orch. work); Variations and Fugue on a Theme of G. P. Telemann (1914); Träume am Kamin, 12 little pieces (1915).

ORGAN: 3 Pieces (1892); Chorale Fantasia ‘Ein’ feste Burg’ (1898); Fantasia and Fugue in C minor (1898); Sonatas, No.1 in F# (1899), No.2 in D minor (1901); Fantasia and Fugue on BACH (1900); 6 Trios (1900); 5 Easy Preludes and Fugues (1904); 12 Pieces (1901); 12 Pieces (1902); 52 Easy Chorale Pieces (1902); 10 Pieces (1903); Variations and Fugue on an Original Theme in F# (1903); 13 Chorale Preludes (1901-3); 12 Pieces (1904); 4 Preludes and Fugues (1904); Introduction, Passacaglia, and Fugue in E minor (1913); 9 Pieces (1913); 30 Little Chorale Preludes (1914); Fantasia and Fugue in D minor (1916); 7 Pieces (1915-16).

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