Introduction, Passacaglia and Fugue in E minor, Op 127 (Reger) - from SIGCD329 - Hyperion Records

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Reviews

'The main elements of this double CD are opp 73 and 127, both over 30 minutes in length and illustrative of Reger at his most inventive. With Reger's writing bordering on Impressionism here, it is hard to sustain the musical narrative at this length. However, Goode has a natural instinct for this music and one is effortlessly navigated through all the technical challenges presented. By way of contrast the second CD contains the Five Easy Preludes & Fugues and a pair of Reger's Bach transcriptions. I had my doubts as to whether the Symphony Hall Klais organ would prove ideal, but what one loses in atmosphere with the concert hall acoustics, one gains in clarity' (Choir & Organ)

'Even by Max Reger's standards, the works that fill the first of this pair of discs are massive: at 35 and 31 minutes respectively, they are his two most substantial organ works. The Introduction, Variations and Fugue on an Original Theme Op 73, composed in 1903, is couched in the dense, chromatic style typical of Reger's maturity and dominated by the huge central set of variations, which is followed by a relatively modest concluding fugue. In the Introduction, Passacaglia and Fugue in E minor Op 127, from 10 years later, the weight is again the central section, a passacaglia with 26 variations. In this case it is balanced by a hefty double fugue, while the textures have a clarity and, in David Goode's performance on the organ of Symphony Hall, Birmingham, a greater crispness, that really do suggest more transparency in Reger's later style. By contrast, the Five Easy Preludes and Fugues on the second disc seem much more straightforward and lighter in tone; Goode certainly makes them sparkle in a way that belies the composer's dour image' (The Guardian)

'The two major organ works on these discs show Max Reger at the height of his powers. They are performed by David Goode on the organ at Symphony Hall, Birmingham. As well as the large-scale works, such as Variations and Fugue on an Original Theme, the set includes shorter preludes and fugues. Compelling recitals' (The Northern Echo)

Introduction
English

The Introduction, Passacaglia and Fugue Op 127 is from the last period in Reger’s life when he was increasingly incorporating into his writing a neo-classical aesthetic, namely greater leanness in the counterpoint, more translucent textures, and often greater brevity (although the latter does not apply in this case, it can be clearly seen in the Nine Pieces Op 129 written later that year).

So, after the traditional alternation of densely chromatic chordal writing and bravura ﬂourishes at the opening of the Introduction, we soon hear some limpid ﬁgures in the right hand, lightly accompanied, before the heavier writing returns

The Passacaglia theme which is then announced softly in the pedals uses eleven notes of the chromatic scale (F natural is absent) and is followed by no fewer than 26 variations. They fall into a carefully-modulated scheme consisting of three groups: an early intensiﬁcation of speed and weight, a retreat to a meditative central point, and a second, and more conclusive, intensiﬁcation. A precise account of the progress of the variations will give an indication of the effective control of pace and excitement achieved by Reger.

1. mainly crotchets
2. quavers
3. triplet quavers
4. triplet quavers in thirds between manuals
5. semiquavers, developing right-hand motif
6. antiphonal writing between hands, using semiquavers
7. scherzando, with triplet semiquavers in thirds in the right hand
8. alternating flourishes and triplet semiquaver chords
9. lighter canonic writing in demisemiquavers
10. heavier chords and flourishes
11. rich counterpoint with semiquaver triplets—the early climax
12. ritenuto and diminuendo, highly chromatic, in semiquavers
13. soft crotchet chords, decorated by arpeggios
14. the still centre of the piece—magical crotchet chords beginning on E major
15. mysterious chromatic quavers
16. distant recollection of the Introduction with staccato octaves in the right hand
17. return of scherzando, triplet semiquavers in thirds in the right hand
18. rippling triplet demisemiquavers passed between hands
19. demisemiquavers in sixths between the hands, alternating with chords
20. dense chordal counterpoint in quavers
21. bravura toccata texture
22. increasingly bravura exchanges in triplet semiquavers
23. demisemiquavers in thirds in both hands—the extreme combination of speed and density
24. more declamatory chordal writing
25. heavy chordal counterpoint in up to eight parts, heralding conclusion
26. climactic return to opening rhythm, now doubled massively in up to eleven parts

The double Fugue is amongst Reger’s freest, in particular the ﬁrst section which develops like a fantasia. It begins as an innocuous scherzando with semiquavers, played on the lightest 8.4.2. registers, showcasing Reger’s new style. In due course these become triplets, recalling textures from the Passacaglia, and then demisemiquavers in a challenging trio texture. The opening texture returns, but now steadily accumulates weight and volume until a cadence in D minor is reached. A second theme with a different shape and a more sostenuto style appears, ppp; but, before long, it too is overrun by triplet semiquavers and eventually a ﬂurry of demisemiquavers. There is nothing to be done but to combine the themes (artfully designed, of course, for that very purpose) and to build to a conclusion of truly awesome grandeur, in which it seems as though every possible chord is tried out before E major ﬁnally arrives.

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Recording details: August 2003
Symphony Hall, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Produced by Jonathan Lane
Engineered by Jonathan Lane & Jonathan Clarke
Release date: April 2013
Total duration: 31 minutes 41 seconds