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Max Reger (1873 -- 1916) combined elements of Brahms and Wagner during a brief but prolific career as a composer. He is best known as a composer for the organ, but he composed a substantial amount of orchestral music and chamber music as well. Reger's songs are the least-known part of his output. He composed over 300 songs, almost as many as Hugo Wolf, whose songs were a great influence on Reger.
This CD consists of 30 songs by Reger performed by mezzo-soprano Frauke May and pianist Bernhard Renzikowski. Frauke May has a burnished and expressive voice and an obvious feeling for Reger's music. She has also recorded Wolf's Morike Lieder for Arte Nova. The low price of this CD will make it especially attractive to the curious listener. The disc was recorded in 1999 but was not released until 2006.
Reger's songs reflect the varied influences of Brahms, Richard Strauss, and in particular, Hugo Wolf. Many of the songs are dense with heavy, clangorous piano writing. Reger's harmonies are chromatic and late romantic. He is something of a bridge figure between late romanticism and the Second Vienesse School. Some of Reger's songs are light and humorous, such as "Zwei Mauschen" opus 76 no. 48 on this CD, but his songs of this type seem forced. He tended to be slow, serious, and difficult at his most characteristic. Reger's songs are not easy listening, but they are rewarding to those who love lieder.
Reger's early songs tend to be melodic in a style that reminds me of Brahms. On this CD, the songs "Gebet" and "Winterahung" from opus 4 feature a flowing melodic vocal line. As Reger progressed, his songs became more declamatory. The vocal line is chromatic, with wide intervals, and the piano part is complex. The songs of this type on this CD include "Ach, Liebster in Gedanken" opus 48 no.4 and "Mein Traum" opus 31 no. 5. Late in life, Reger returned to a simpler, more melodic approach in his songs. An excellent example from this CD is "Wiegenlied", opus 142/1. This song will remind the listener of Brahms's famous lullaby with its simple vocal line and flowing accompaniment.
The liner notes for this CD include a good, basic introduction to Reger's songs. German texts, but no translations, for the songs are provided. This CD will have its greatest appeal to lovers of the songs of Schubert, Brahms, Wolf, or Strauss who want to explore some little-known works of German lieder.
