RWA Online Encyclopedia II – Songs and Choral Works WoO V/3

Tantum ergo in E flat major WoO V/3

for mixed voice choir and organ

Content
Creation
Weiden, vermutlich 1901
Status
–
Dedication
–
Performance medium
Mixed choir [Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass]; Organ
Work collection
  • -
Original work
  • -
Versions
  • -

1.

WoO V/3 has not been edited for the RWA due to the source situation.

Tantum ergo in E flat major

Work
Also for
Category
Text template
First edition
unknown
Template edition

Thomas von Aquin: Tantum ergo Sacramentum, Nr. 381, in: Cäcilia. Katholisches Gesang- und Gebetbuch, siebzehnte unveränderte Auflage, ed. by Joseph Moor, Verlag von Friedrich Pustet, Regensburg, New York and Cincinnati 1883, p. 306–307.

Copy shown in RWA: DE, Weiden, Stadtmuseum/Max-Reger-Sammlung.

Note: Ein Exemplar befand sich in Regers Besitz. Das Gesangbuch war wohl ein Geschenk zur Firmung im Jahr 1884. Das Exemplar gelangte aus Weidener Privatbesitz in die dortige Augustinerkirche und nach deren Profanierung in das Stadtmuseum Weiden (vgl. “Auf den Spuren von Max Reger – Augustiner-Geschenke führen zu spannender Recherche”, in Der neue Tag, Weiden, 11. August 2010; Artikel gezeichnet mit “ps”).

Annotations

Note: Textursprung: 5. und 6. Strophe des Hymnus “Pange lingua” von Thomas von Aquin (1225–1274), 1263/64.

1. Composition

Nothing is known about the composition of the Tantum ergo fragment in E flat major reproduced as a facsimile in the digital section of the edition. What survives is simply an undated manuscript by Adalbert Lindner which bears the title “Tantum ergo v. Max Reger”.1 Here it must remain open how faithfully Lindner reproduced the source, and whether this was also a fragment.2 After four measures of organ prelude, the music for choir, written note-against-note, simply contains two identical statements of ten measures without text. This simple musical structure makes any closeness to the 1901 Tantum ergo settings from op. 61 seem rather doubtful.

2.

Translation by Elizabeth Robinson.

1
The first three pages of the double folio contain Lindner’s piano reduction of Reger’s 1899 Scherzino for horn and string orchestra WoO I/6 – as the earliest possible date of Lindner’s manuscript (but not, however, of Reger’s original).
2
The pronounced fragmentary character and very simple counterpoint suggest that this could be a realization by Lindner.

1. Reception

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

1.

It is surprising that Adalbert Lindner should have written down an original work by Reger on the back of an arrangement. The musical structure of the present fragmentary manuscript (rhythmic uniformity, homophonic setting, textbook harmony) also gives rise to doubts that the original was a work composed by Reger through to the end. Conceivable would be some kind of sketch that reproduced the organ prelude and at least the following melody notes. The fact that on the previous piano score of the Scherzino WoO I/6 the note “arr. v. A. Lindner” can be found, but on the Tantum ergo fragment not, makes Lindner’s creative involvement just as untrustworthy. Due to the doubtful status of the original and the good legibility of Linder’s manuscript, the work was not edited for the RWA.

2. Sources

  • unbekannte autographe Vorlage (verschollen)
  • Manuskript Adalbert Lindners (Fragment)
Object reference

Max Reger: Tantum ergo in E flat major WoO V/3, in: Reger-Werkausgabe, www.reger-werkausgabe.de/mri_work_01033.html, version 3.1.5, 28th November 2025.

Information

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