RWA Online Encyclopedia I – Organ Works op. 79b

Haus- und Kirchenmusik op. 79

Compositions op. 79b

13 Chorale Preludes for organ

Content
Creation
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Status
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Dedication
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Performance medium
Organ
Work collection
Original work
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Versions
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1.

Reger-Werkausgabe Bd. I/4: Choralvorspiele, S. 114–131.
Herausgeber Alexander Becker, Christopher Grafschmidt, Stefan König, Stefanie Steiner-Grage.
Verlag Carus-Verlag, Stuttgart; Verlagsnummer: CV 52.804.
Erscheinungsdatum Juni 2013.
Notensatz Carus-Verlag, Stuttgart.
Copyright 2013 by Carus-Verlag, Stuttgart and Max-Reger-Institut, Karlsruhe – CV 52.804.
Vervielfältigungen jeglicher Art sind gesetzlich verboten. / Any unauthorized reproduction is prohibited by law.
Alle Rechte vorbehalten. / All rights reserved.
ISMN M-007-13938-4.
ISBN 978-3-89948-180-8.

Compositions

1. Composition and Publication

As early as 19 August 1901, before any of the chorale preludes had been published in the Blättern für Haus- und Kirchenmusik (see Overview), Reger suggested to Beyer & Söhne the idea of bringing together the preludes “in one volume” for the “book trade” (Postcard). When the publisher took up this suggestion cannot be deduced from the correspondence. On the occasion of a special edition of two piano pieces, Reger raised the question again on 25 March 1902: “When are the […] chorale preludes for organ coming? (The latter, as you have a large number from me, in one book).” (Postcard) In the preceding year, Reger had supplied a total of eight preludes for publication in the Blätter, of which only two had been published by that date. Seven of these pieces were specially composed for the Blätter, and one had first been published in the Monatschrift für Gottesdienst und kirchliche Kunst. On 9 October 1903 the editor Ernst Rabich received five further chorale preludes from Reger, which had all previously been printed in the Monatschrift (see Overview).1

With this last consignment there was no mention of an collection; it can be assumed that such a project was not yet being planned. On 7 April 1904 Reger agreed to the compilation of all his music inserts for Beyer & Söhne under the opus number 79 and at the same time, decided on the division into volumes a–e (Letter). In the Compositions for organ op. 79b all preludes were included which Reger had made available for the Blätter up to that point (including previously unpublished ones), but with one exception: the rights in the Chorale Prelude “Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende”, which had been published in both the Monatschrift (1900) and the Blätter (1902), had in the meantime been acquired by Lauterbach & Kuhn, as this prelude had been included as no. 48 in op. 67. Possibly Beyer & Söhne insisted on their earlier rights and demanded a substitute, whereupon Reger evidently composed a prelude with the same title, which was used as op. 79 no. 6.

A registered letter dated 12 May 1904 to Beyer & Söhne may have contained sets of proofs for one or several of the collections. The collection of chorale preludes was published apparently first presumably in June/July 1904.2 The reprint of the Chorale Prelude “Morgenglanz der Ewigkeit” was included in September 1904 in the Blätter für Haus- und Kirchenmusik subsequently using the same plates as for op. 79b (and therefore without a title).

2.

Translation by Elizabeth Robinson.

1
This renewed use as periodical inserts was possible without any problems, as Reger had retained all further exploitation rights with regard to the Monatschrift (see letter dated 10 February 1901 to Ernst Rabich). The sources submitted were very probably first printed editions from the Monatschrift.
2
See Hofmeister’s Musikalisch-literarischer Monatsbericht über neue Musikalien, musikalische Schriften und Abbildungen, August 1904, p. 419.

1. Reception

At present, there are no records of performances in Reger's time.

1. Stemma

Die in Klammern gesetzten Quellen sind verschollen; ⇒ bedeutet, dass dieselben Druckplatten Verwendung fanden.
Die in Klammern gesetzten Quellen sind verschollen; ⇒ bedeutet, dass dieselben Druckplatten Verwendung fanden.

2. Quellenbewertung

Der Edition liegt als Leitquelle der Erstdruck des Sammelbands zugrunde. Als zusätzliche Quellen wurden die Zeitschriftenbeigaben sowie die für einen Paralleldruck vorgesehene autographe Stichvorlage von »Herr, nun selbst den Wagen halt« (Nr. 12) herangezogen.
Da für die Zweitdrucke von »Morgenglanz der Ewigkeit« (Nr. 4) und »Herr, nun selbst den Wagen halt« (Nr. 12) dieselben Platten wie in Opus 79b verwendet wurden, spielten diese für die Edition keine Rolle.
Ob Reger an dem Neudruck der Choralvorspiele »Ein’ feste Burg ist unser Gott« (Nr. 2) und »Herr, nun selbst den Wagen halt« (Nr. 3) im Präludienbuch etwa mittels Korrekturabzug beteiligt war, ist nicht bekannt. Daher sind dessen Lesarten zwar ins Verzeichnis aufgenommen, bei der Edition wurden sie jedoch nicht berücksichtigt.

3. Sources

    Object reference

    Max Reger: Compositions op. 79b, in: Reger-Werkausgabe, www.reger-werkausgabe.de/mri_work_00087.html, last check: 5th May 2024.

    Information

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