Max Reger aimed to reconcile Romantic expression with the contrapuntal rigor of the Baroque era, while embracing modernist perspectives that pushed the boundaries of tonality.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Max Reger's commitment to the works of J. S. Bach is encapsulated in his famous quote: 'Bach is the beginning and end of all music'.
Composer Biography
Max Reger, hailed as 'the last giant in music' by composer Paul Hindemith, died suddenly at the age of 43, having suffered from alcoholism, compulsive eating, and chain-smoking.
Performer Biography
Eden Walker, the pianist on this recording, focuses on underrepresented virtuoso piano works by composers like Reger, Busoni, Alkan, and Godowsky.
Composition History
Träume am Kamin (Dreams by the fireside), Op.143, composed just one year before Reger's death in 1916, is a collection of 12 short pieces and marks his final foray into piano composition.
Compositional Technique
Reger's musical signature is defined by dense textures, chromatic harmonies, and meticulous contrapuntal craftsmanship, requiring performers and listeners to engage intellectually.
Composition History
The Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Johann Sebastian Bach, Op.81, published in 1904, is considered Reger's crowning achievement for the piano.
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