Composer Max Reger was profoundly convinced he shared the same musical grammar with Johann Sebastian Bach, the 'God of composers'.
Compositional Technique
Max Reger's musical language, best described as a 'stream of sound' (Klangstrom), combines Baroque counterpoint, impressionistic orchestration, post-Wagnerian chromatic harmony, and Brahmsian developing variation.
Notable Performances
The Violin Concerto was premiered by French violinist Henri Marteau in Leipzig in 1908, but it was Adolf Busch who championed the work, giving its American premiere in 1942.
Critical Reception
After 1945, composer Max Reger's reputation faded, not enjoying the esteem of Strauss's operas, the influence of Schoenberg's twelve-tone music, or a renaissance like Mahler's symphonies.
Composition History
Max Reger composed his Violin Concerto in A major, Op 101, in 1907, working it out 'in his head' during long railway journeys.
Composer Biography
Max Reger began his career as a highly talented follower of Brahms, aiming to create a lasting alternative to the 'decadence' of modern music.
Composition History
The Two Romances for violin and small orchestra, Op 50, were conceived by Max Reger as 'visiting cards' for a big-city audience, following in the footsteps of Beethoven, Bruch, and Dvořák.
