Max Reger(1873-1916)

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It seems that Reger doesn't get much love around here and that's a shame because I think he's a great composer. This past month I've really been examining his orchestral music. I would very much like to get into his chamber music at some point as well. There's an aggression to his music that resonates with me.

What's your favorite Reger orchestral work?

[The new erato]

The Bøcklin suite. But I like his chamber music best, I had the pleasure of playing through all 23 CDs of it a few years ago.

[Dundonnell]

MAX REGER: A CATALOGUE OF THE ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

1898:      "Hymne an den Gesang" for chorus and orchestra, op. 21
1900:      Romance No.1 in G major for Violin and Orchestra, op.50: 9 minutes
                Romance No.2 in D major for Violin and Orchestra, op.50: 10 minutes
1903:      "Gesang der Verklarten" for chorus and orchestra, op.71
1904/15:Variations and Fugue on a theme by Beethoven for orchestra, op.86: 22 minutes
1904-05:Sinfonietta in A major, op.90: 50 minutes
1905-06:Serenade in G major for orchestra, op.95: 41 minutes
1906/16:Suite in the Olden Style in F major for orchestra, op.93: 22 minutes
1907:      Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Johann Adam Hiller for orchestra, op. 100: 41 minutes
1907-08:Violin Concerto in A major, op.101: 54 minutes
1908:      Symphonic Prologue to a Tragedy in A minor for orchestra, op.108: 33 minutes
                "Weihegesang" for contralto, chorus and wind orchestra: 10 minutes
1908-09:Psalm 100 for chorus, orchestra and organ, op.106: 32 minutes
1909:      "Die Nonnen" for chorus and orchestra, op.112
1910:       Piano Concerto in F minor, op.114: 43 minutes
1911:      "Die Weihe der Nacht" for contralto, male chorus and orchestra, op.119: 16 minutes
                Comedy Overture, op.120
1912:      Concerto in the Olden Style in F majorfor orchestra, op.123: 19 minutes
                "An Die Hoffnung" for mezzo-soprano and orchestra, op.124
                A Romantic Suite for orchestra, op.125: 27 minutes
                "Romischer Triumphgesang" for male chorus and orchestra, op.126
1913:      Four Poems after A. Bocklin for orchestra, op.128: 28 minutes
                 Ballet Suite in D major for orchestra, op.130: 19 minutes
1914:      "Hymnus der Liebe" for contralto or baritone and orchestra, op.136
               "Eine Vaterlandische Ouverture", op.140   
1914-15:Variations and Fugue on a theme by Mozart for orchestra, op.132: 34 minutes
1915:      "Der Einsiedler" for chorus and orchestra, op.144a
                Requiem for contralto or baritone, chorus and orchestra, op.144b: 18 minutes
1916:      Andante and Rondo for Violin and Orchestra, op.147

[Mirror Image]

MAX REGER: A CATALOGUE OF THE ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

1898:      "Hymne an den Gesang" for chorus and orchestra, op. 21
1900:      Romance No.1 in G major for Violin and Orchestra, op.50: 9 minutes
                Romance No.2 in D major for Violin and Orchestra, op.50: 10 minutes
1903:      "Gesang der Verklarten" for chorus and orchestra, op.71
1904/15:Variations and Fugue on a theme by Beethoven for orchestra, op.86: 22 minutes
1904-05:Sinfonietta in A major, op.90: 50 minutes
1905-06:Serenade in G major for orchestra, op.95: 41 minutes
1906/16:Suite in the Olden Style in F major for orchestra, op.93: 22 minutes
1907:      Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Johann Adam Hiller for orchestra, op. 100: 41 minutes
1907-08:Violin Concerto in A major, op.101: 54 minutes
1908:      Symphonic Prologue to a Tragedy in A minor for orchestra, op.108: 33 minutes
                "Weihegesang" for contralto, chorus and wind orchestra: 10 minutes
1908-09:Psalm 100 for chorus, orchestra and organ, op.106: 32 minutes
1909:      "Die Nonnen" for chorus and orchestra, op.112
1910:       Piano Concerto in F minor, op.114: 43 minutes
1911:      "Die Weihe der Nacht" for contralto, male chorus and orchestra, op.119: 16 minutes
                Comedy Overture, op.120
1912:      Concerto in the Olden Style in F majorfor orchestra, op.123: 19 minutes
                "An Die Hoffnung" for mezzo-soprano and orchestra, op.124
                A Romantic Suite for orchestra, op.125: 27 minutes
                "Romischer Triumphgesang" for male chorus and orchestra, op.126
1913:      Four Poems after A. Bocklin for orchestra, op.128: 28 minutes
                 Ballet Suite in D major for orchestra, op.130: 19 minutes
1914:      "Hymnus der Liebe" for contralto or baritone and orchestra, op.136
               "Eine Vaterlandische Ouverture", op.140   
1914-15:Variations and Fugue on a theme by Mozart for orchestra, op.132: 34 minutes
1915:      "Der Einsiedler" for chorus and orchestra, op.144a
                Requiem for contralto or baritone, chorus and orchestra, op.144b: 18 minutes
1916:      Andante and Rondo for Violin and Orchestra, op.147

Colin comes through again! Thanks for this my friend. Those Romances for violin and orchestra are flat-out gorgeous.

[mszczuj]

What's your favorite Reger orchestral work?

Violin Concerto. This is the great scale work which never lose depth and inspiration (unless you hear to if fot the first or second time). It can give more satisfaction even than Brahms Concerto.

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Violin Concerto. This is the great scale work which never lose depth and inspiration (unless you hear to if fot the first or second time). It can give more satisfaction even than Brahms Concerto.

Like the Piano Concerto, it gets better and better with repeated listens.

[Karl Henning]

Oh.  Dave, this could mean we're a gang.

Sort of a music-discussion-group terror cell.

What fun to poke around past posts . . . .

But the reason:

If there be one must-have CD of Reger organ music — what is it?

TIA

[Lethevich]

I would also be interested in such a disc (I have access to tons, but don't know which to pick).

I have been enjoying his VC a lot recently, thanks to the Hyperion recording.

[Karl Henning]

Meanwhile I see a disc played by Peter Sykes; is this among the lot you've got, Sara?

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[Lethevich]

Nein, although with a little title like that, I am sad for not having it.

edit: I can't type

[Karl Henning]

I've met him now and again; he's got a job in Cambridge (Mass.) Could be another chap to float the new Organ Sonata towards, when it's done.

Back on topic: There are just volumes and volumes of the organ music on Naxos, aren't there?

[Herman]

For some reason I have been listening a lot to Reger's two last String Quartets, op. 109 and 121, lately. So much so that the MDG disc has been in de cdplayer almost continuously for the past two weeks.

It's such amazing music.

Theonly useful thing I can say is that the Mannheim String Quartet (on MDG) is significantly better than the Vogler on Nimbus.

[Karl Henning]

Thanks for that, Herman.

[Leo K.]

My newest Reger aquisition, the three cello suites, haven't listened yet, but will comment when I do. Completely new to this work.

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My newest Reger aquisition, the three cello suites, haven't listened yet, but will comment when I do. Completely new to this work.

That looks good, Leo. By the way, love the avatar.

[Mirror Image]

As far as his orchestral music is concerned, this recording is still unbelievably good:

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[The new erato]

As far as his orchestral music is concerned, this recording is still unbelievably good:

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Yes it is. Strong recommendation from me as well.

[Purusha]

It's a shame Reger didn't live longer. I think his music would have gone on to become quite possibly more chromatic/atonal, but this is just speculation.

I don't think a change in technique would have mattered in altering the quality of his music. Reger is one of those composers who's language is formulated almost completely at a very early stage and after that its just a prolonged and painstaking process of refinement. Brahms is an obvious example here.

[Herman]

I don't think a change in technique would have mattered in altering the quality of his music. Reger is one of those composers who's language is formulated almost completely at a very early stage and after that its just a prolonged and painstaking process of refinement. Brahms is an obvious example here.

That's an interesting thought. Welcome , Purusha!

[Leo K.]

As far as his orchestral music is concerned, this recording is still unbelievably good:

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I am just pondering the fact that I want to acquire more orchestral works of Reger, I have plenty of Reger's chamber music but I'm in the dark concerning his orchestral work.

Thanks for the recommend John.