REGER, MAX (1873-1916), German composer, was born at Brand, Bavaria, on March 19, 1873. He studied at Weiden, Sondershausen and Wiesbaden, and taught at the Royal academy, Munich, from 1905-07, when he became a teacher at the Leipzig conservatorium, a post which he retained until his death, on May I I, 1916. His early piano works, Variations on a Theme from Bach, Variations on a Theme from Beethoven, the Passacaglia and Fugue, and later the violin sonata in F sharp minor, which show already his individuality and remarkable technical powers, were followed by his first orchestral work, Sinfonietta (1906). After moving to Leipzig he wrote the violin concerto and piano concerto, with the powerful Symphonie Prologue to a Tragedy and the Comedy Overture, a number of choral pieces including Die Nonnen, Der romische Triumphgesang and Die Weihe der Nacht, the fine motets written for the Thomaner-Chor and the Schlichte Weisen sonatinas. From the period 1911-13, when he was also director of the court orchestra at Meiningen, there dates the Romantische Suite, Bocklin Suite, Ballet Suite, and later, Variations on a Theme from Mozart. From 1914 onwards his
numerous compositions include many chamber works, pieces for choir and orchestra, for the piano and for the organ, and songs.
Reger was one of the most prolific and, in some respects, remarkably gifted composers of his day. His fertility was extraor dinary, and he turned out work after work, often on the largest scale and in the most complex forms, with astonishing ease. His powers as a contrapuntist were especially noteworthy, and the fugue was one of his favourite forms. But as to the value of his immense output critical opinion is sharply divided.