Max Reger

Johann Baptist Joseph Maximilian Reger (19 March 1873 – 11 May 1916) was a German composer, pianist, organist, conductor, and teacher. He had many jobs, including playing concerts, leading music at the Leipzig University Church, teaching at the Royal Conservatory in Leipzig, and directing music for George II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen.

At first, Reger wrote songs called Lieder, music for small groups, choir music, and pieces for piano and organ. Later, he wrote music for bigger orchestras, like the famous Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Mozart, made in 1914. He also wrote music for choirs and orchestras, such as Gesang der Verklärten, Der 100. Psalm, Der Einsiedler, and the Hebbel Requiem, all written between 1903 and 1915.

Biography

Max Reger was born in Brand, Bavaria and grew up in a family that loved music. He learned to play several instruments when he was young. When he was five, he started learning organ, violin, and cello from his father, and piano from his mother.

Reger loved music and decided to make it his career. He studied music and began writing pieces for piano, organ, and choir. His early works included songs and chamber music. Over the years, he had many jobs, including being a music director at the Leipzig University Church and a professor at the Royal Conservatory in Leipzig. He was also the music director for the court of Duke Georg II of Saxe-Meiningen.

Reger kept writing music until his health got worse. He died from a heart attack in 1916 while staying in Leipzig. Even after he died, his music was still remembered and liked by many.

Works

Main article: List of compositions by Max Reger

Max Reger made many pieces of music in just over 25 years. He was well known in Germany at the time. Much of his music used special styles, like fugues or variations. One famous piece is the Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Mozart, which uses a theme from Mozart’s piano music.

Reger wrote a lot of music for the organ. Some of his most popular organ pieces are the Benedictus from his Op. 59 and the Fantasy and Fugue on BACH, Op. 46. He also recorded some of his organ works on a special instrument called the Welte Philharmonic organ.

Although Reger did not write operas or symphonies, he did compose a piece called a Sinfonietta, which is Op. 90. His music often mixed ideas from older composers like Beethoven and Brahms with new harmonies from Liszt and Wagner.

Reger also wrote many songs and choral works, including a piece called Der 100. Psalm. He used poems by many famous writers in his music. His compositions often used older styles, like fugue and continuo.

Reception

In 1898, a writer named Caesar Hochstetter wrote about Max Reger in a music magazine. He praised Reger as a talented young composer. To thank him, Reger dedicated two piano pieces to Hochstetter.

Reger had a difficult relationship with another writer, Rudolf Louis, who often said negative things about Reger’s music. After a performance, Louis wrote a harsh review. Reger responded with a playful note.

Later, the famous composer Arnold Schoenberg admired Reger’s work. In a letter, he said Reger was a genius.

Films

A documentary called Max Reger – Music as a perpetual state was made in 2002 by Andreas Pichler and Ewald Kontschieder. It was the first film about Max Reger and worked with the Max-Reger-Institute.

Another film, Max Reger: The Last Giant, shows Reger's life and music. It is part of a 6 DVD set named Maximum Reger, released in December 2016 to remember the 100th year since Reger passed away. This set, made by Fugue State Films, includes the film and music played by Frauke May, Bernhard Haas, Bernhard Buttmann and the Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt.