Max Reger

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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).

Max Reger , 1873–1916, German composer; he studied with Hugo Riemann in Wiesbaden. Through his sensitive interpretations of Mozart and Bach he won acclaim as a pianist. In 1901 he settled in Munich, where he taught composition and organ, and from 1907 until his death he taught at the Leipzig Conservatory. In 1911 he became conductor of the court orchestra at Meiningen. He was highly esteemed in Germany for his organ music, which exhibits extreme polyphonic complexity and a consummate technique. Among his important compositions for the organ are Fantasy and Fugue in C Minor (1898) and Fantasy and Fugue on Bach (1900). His enormous output also includes Improvisation (1898), for pianos; the Symphonic Prologue to a Tragedy, for orchestra; and more than 300 songs.