Composer

:

Max Reger

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Fugue

Compose Date

:

Jul 6, 1907

First Performance

:

Oct 15, 1907

Average_duration

:

42:30

Movement_count

:

13

Movement ....

Max Reger's 'Variations and Fugue on a Theme of J.A. Hiller for orchestra in E major, Op. 100' was composed in 1907. It premiered on February 23, 1908, in Leipzig, Germany, conducted by Arthur Nikisch. The piece consists of a theme and 19 variations, followed by a fugue. The theme is taken from a keyboard sonata by Johann Adam Hiller, a composer from the mid-18th century. Reger's variations explore a wide range of moods and textures, from delicate and lyrical to bold and dramatic. The variations are connected by transitional passages that help to maintain a sense of unity throughout the work. The first variation features a solo violin, while the second is a lively scherzo. The third variation is a gentle waltz, and the fourth is a fugato that leads into a powerful fifth variation. The sixth variation is a lyrical adagio, followed by a playful seventh variation. The eighth variation is a march, and the ninth is a lively polka. The tenth variation is a fugato that leads into a dramatic eleventh variation. The twelfth variation is a gentle and introspective adagio, while the thirteenth is a lively scherzo. The fourteenth variation is a fugato that leads into a powerful fifteenth variation. The sixteenth variation is a gentle and lyrical adagio, followed by a playful seventeenth variation. The eighteenth variation is a march, and the nineteenth is a lively polka. The final fugue is a tour-de-force of contrapuntal writing, featuring a complex interweaving of themes and textures. The fugue builds to a powerful climax before subsiding into a gentle coda that brings the work to a peaceful close. Reger's 'Variations and Fugue on a Theme of J.A. Hiller' is a masterful example of his skill as a composer and his deep understanding of the orchestral medium. The work is characterized by its rich harmonies, complex textures, and virtuosic writing for the orchestra. It remains a popular and frequently performed work in the orchestral repertoire.

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