Est 1923

Reger Organ Works Vol 10

Contrasting preludes, fugues and fantasias on a characterful instrument

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: (Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger

Genre:

Instrumental

Label: Naxos

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 0

Mastering:

Stereo
DDD

Catalogue Number: 8 570960

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
(4) Preludes and Fugues, Movement: No. 4 in E minor (Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
(Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
Martin Welzel, Organ
(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Vater unser im Himmelreich (Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
(Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
Martin Welzel, Organ
(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her (Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
(Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
Martin Welzel, Organ
(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Wachet auf! ruft uns die Stimme (Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
(Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
Martin Welzel, Organ
(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Von Gott will ich nicht lassen (Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
(Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
Martin Welzel, Organ
(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Warum sollt ich mich denn grämen (Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
(Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
Martin Welzel, Organ
(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan (Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
(Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
Martin Welzel, Organ
Prelude and Fugue (Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
(Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
Martin Welzel, Organ
(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten (Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
(Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
Martin Welzel, Organ
(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Werde munter, mein Gemüte (Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
(Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
Martin Welzel, Organ
(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Wer weiss, wie nahe mir mein Ende (Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
(Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
Martin Welzel, Organ
(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern (Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
(Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
Martin Welzel, Organ
(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Wie wohl ist mir, o Freund der Seelen (Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
(Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
Martin Welzel, Organ
(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Jesus ist kommen (Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
(Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
Martin Welzel, Organ
(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: O wie selig seid ihr doch, ihr Frommen (Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
(Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
Martin Welzel, Organ
Chorale Fantasia on 'Freu' dich sehr, o meine Seel (Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
(Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) Reger, Composer
Martin Welzel, Organ
Reger’s monumentally demanding series of chorale fantasias is surely the towering crown of late-Romantic German organ music. With their writhingly post-Brahmsian labyrinths of counterpoint, bursts of Teutonic bombast and exhausting extremes of dynamic and tempo, these robust examples of “absolute” music require a calming antidote, which is why the 52 Easy Chorale Preludes, Op 67, make such a welcome contrast. While not all of the 14 Preludes recorded here are top-drawer Reger, his assured workmanship produces several inspired treatments, for example in the sinewy solidity of No 49, Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, and the sparkling elaboration of No 44, Was Gott tut.

The two Preludes and Fugues are well contrasted. That in G sharp minor is especially beguiling, the Prelude’s opening searching and tentative, its Fugue built on an equally enigmatic subject. Martin Welzel keeps everything moving along smoothly in the E minor Prelude and Fugue, too. Trier Cathedral’s Klais organ copes magnificently with the wide range of tonal colours and quick changes demanded by this most fastidious of composers. This is an instrument of great character: firm diapason foundations, fragrant flutes, piquant mixtures and acidic string ranks.

The concluding Chorale Fantasia on “Freu dich sehr” bursts in with a confident flourish before we are treated to an exhaustive exploration of the chorale melody in a series of variations. Welzel’s performances of this (and everything else on the disc) are persuasive, sensitive and winsome. The Trier acoustic is beautifully captured and the supporting documentation everything one could wish for.

Reger Organ Works Vol 10

(4) Preludes and Fugues, Movement: No. 4 in E minor

(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Vater unser im Himmelreich

(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her

(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Wachet auf! ruft uns die Stimme

(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Von Gott will ich nicht lassen

(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Warum sollt ich mich denn grämen

(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan

Prelude and Fugue

(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten

(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Werde munter, mein Gemüte

(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Wer weiss, wie nahe mir mein Ende

(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern

(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Wie wohl ist mir, o Freund der Seelen

(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: Jesus ist kommen

(52) Easy Chorale Preludes, Movement: O wie selig seid ihr doch, ihr Frommen

Chorale Fantasia on 'Freu' dich sehr, o meine Seel

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