Composer

:

Max Reger

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Fugue

Compose Date

:

Feb 21, 1900

First Performance

:

1900

Average_duration

:

18:49

Movement_count

:

2

Movement ....

Max Reger's 'Fantasia and Fugue on B-A-C-H for organ, Op. 46' is a monumental work for the organ, composed in 1900. The piece was premiered in 1901 by Karl Straube, a renowned organist of the time, and has since become one of Reger's most popular works. The piece is divided into two movements, the first being the Fantasia and the second being the Fugue. The Fantasia is a free-form piece that showcases Reger's virtuosic organ writing. It begins with a bold statement of the B-A-C-H motif, which is a musical reference to the notes B-flat, A, C, and B-natural. This motif was famously used by Johann Sebastian Bach in several of his works, and Reger uses it as a tribute to the great composer. The Fantasia then moves through a series of contrasting sections, each showcasing different colors and textures of the organ. Reger's use of chromaticism and dissonance creates a sense of tension and drama throughout the piece, which is only resolved in the final section with a triumphant restatement of the B-A-C-H motif. The Fugue is a more structured piece, based on the same B-A-C-H motif. Reger uses a complex and intricate fugue form, with multiple voices weaving in and out of each other. The piece builds in intensity and complexity, with Reger's use of counterpoint and harmonic tension creating a sense of urgency and excitement. Overall, 'Fantasia and Fugue on B-A-C-H for organ, Op. 46' is a masterful work that showcases Reger's skill as a composer and his deep reverence for the music of Bach. Its virtuosic writing and complex structure make it a challenging piece for organists, but its beauty and power have made it a beloved work in the organ repertoire.

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