description Max Reger Overview
Max Reger (1873-1916) was a German composer, organist, and pianist of the late Romantic period known for his complex, densely contrapuntal compositions and music theory writings. His extensive output includes organ works, chamber music, orchestral compositions, and lieder, with notable pieces such as Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Mozart (1914) and the Requiem (1915). Reger taught at the Leipzig Conservatory from 1907 until 1908 and later became director of the Meiningen Court Orchestra from 1911 to 1914, championing both historical works and contemporary compositions in his programming.
help Max Reger FAQ
What is Max Reger's most famous organ work?
His Phantasie und Fuge über B-A-C-H, built on the musical letters of Bach's name, is one of the monuments of the organ repertoire. The Variations and Fugue on a Theme by J.S. Bach, Op. 81, is another signature piece showcasing his dense contrapuntal writing.
How did Max Reger die?
Reger died of a heart attack in Leipzig in May 1916, aged just 43, while on a concert tour. His death cut short one of the most prolific careers in late Romantic German music.
Which composers influenced Max Reger?
Johann Sebastian Bach was the dominant influence, visible everywhere in Reger's fugues, chorale preludes, and variation sets, with Brahms a close second in his structural seriousness. The result is a late Romantic style famous, and sometimes notorious, for its dense polyphony.
Is the famous 'smallest room' insult really by Max Reger?
The line, 'I am sitting in the smallest room of my house. I have your review before me. In a moment it will be behind me,' is famously attributed to Reger responding to a critic. While its exact provenance is debated, it has become inseparable from his name.
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