For Reger fans

[jbuck919]

IMO Max Reger is the greatest organ composer after Bach both in terms of quality and chronology. That is not intended as a desire to debate those who prefer Messiaen.

This collection incorporated in a DVD about Reger's life sounds interesting. I am not normally the one to recommend such things, but since it is (only?) available from the Organ Historical Society, I figured you might not know about it if I didn't post it. I know that there are other fans of Reger's music here, and more than just the organ music is represented.

I may not buy this myself because it is no bargain at $160+ S&H. OHS members like myself may take advantage of the generous ( ) discount of $10. It is one more reason for me (and not only me) to question the direction in which the organization seems to be moving, but I won't bore you with that story here.

http://www.ohscatalog.org/maxrelagi.html

[John F]

"For Reger fans" - I guess that includes me out, because such of his music as I've heard hasn't appealed to me at all. But maybe the organ music will do the trick; I don't know it at all.

Reger was an enthusiasm of some musicians I regard very highly, the violinist Adolf Busch and his son-in-law Rudolf Serkin. Because of my interest in them, I listened to their Reger recordings. These include not only chamber music but the outsized piano concerto; Serkin's standing with his record company, American Columbia, was such that he could get them to make this recording, which was doubtless expensive and can't have sold well. The CD reissue, coupling it with Prokofiev's unappealing 4th piano concerto with Serkin, probably sells no better.

(I see that Peter Serkin recorded it too, keeping it in the family. So has Marc-André Hamelin, that champion of music other pianists don't want to play. No doubt both play it well, but I don't need to hear it again.)

[jserraglio]

Reger first came to my attention on Rudolf Serkin's recordings. Because of him, I have bought and enjoyed Reger's music.

[arepo]

Let me recommend a terrific recording of Max Reger's Piano writings, including the Variations and Fugue on a theme by Bach, performed by Marc-Andre Hamelin on the Hyperion label.
A fine work and the CD also contains the Five Humoresques, Op.20 and Variations and Fugue on a Telemann theme, Op.134.
cliftwood

[Lance]

I, too, was more or less introduced to Reger's music with the piano concerto recorded by Rudolf Serkin. And I have augmented my Reger discs with those by Hamelin, Bolet, Tal & Groethuysen (piano arrangements), Oppitz among others - just in piano works, and have already some organ, vocal and chamber music. Otherwise, Reger is not generally in my listening regimen. I was not terribly enamored with the piano concerto except for the fact that Rudolf Serkin was the pianist. I haven't quite figured out yet why I am not yet a Regerite!

[THEHORN]

Another Reger work which I like very much is the "Variations on a theme by Johann Adam
Hiller " for orchestra , which is one of his most appealing and accessible works .
It's a sparkling and inventive piece . I have the excellent recording by Franz Konwitschny and the Gewandhaus orchestra on Berlin Classics .
And John, I like the Prokofiev 4th piano concerto very much and consider it to be an underrated work .

[John F]

I didn't say the Prokofiev is no good as music but that it's unappealing to record buyers.

[jserraglio]

IMO Max Reger is the greatest organ composer after Bach both in terms of quality and chronology.

Listening now. Thanks for the heads-up.
Max Reger Organ Works, performed by Balázs Szabó
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... B58B0F8FA6