March 19 - Max Reger (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous postings for March 19th may be found here:  Max Reger (2019), Josef Matthias Hauer (2020), Robert McFerrin Sr.; Max Reger (2021), Max Reger (2022), Max Reger (2023), and Max Reger (2024)

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Max Reger (19 March 1873 – 11 May 1916) was a German composer who had an unrivaled command of counterpoint and late Romantic chromaticism.  Critical opinion varies as to whether this was for better or for worse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Differences

In Germany you still see Max

Reger on their music racks;

In other lands, where tastes are sparer,

A Reger score is viewed with terror

As probably the baneful bearer

Of overstuffed aesthetic error,

And there performances are rarer.

 

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Teach Me

A friend said to Reger, "Dear Max,

You've never been lazy or lax;

But a thing that you've missed

Is a unabridged list

Of your favorite canonical hacks.

 

 

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