Max Reger
Germany, 1890–1916
German composer and organist (1873-1916) who poured Bach's counterpoint into dense late-Romantic chromaticism. Enormously prolific in a short life, his fugues and organ works made him a bridge from Brahms to the modernists who came after.
MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced Max Reger and 4 artists Max Reger influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced Max Reger?
- Johann Sebastian Bach — Reger said plainly: in music I owe everything to J. S. Bach. His fugues and organ works are direct homage.
- Johannes Brahms — Brahms was Reger's other pole - he eulogised him as one of the milestones of German music, and took from him the dense chromatic harmony he wrapped Bach's counterpoint in.
Which artists did Max Reger influence?
- Paul Hindemith — Hindemith was at the Leipzig Conservatory while Reger taught there and absorbed his contrapuntal style, which he later reworked into his own neo-Baroque polyphony.
- Arnold Schoenberg — Reger's saturated chromaticism pushed tonality to its limit, and Schoenberg - who admired and programmed him - is among the modernists he opened the door for.
- Béla Bartók — Bartok is named among the modernists Reger's dense contrapuntal writing influenced.
- Sergei Prokofiev — Prokofiev is likewise named among the composers Reger's modernist harmony reached.