Born in Brand, Bavaria, Reger studied music in Munich and Wiesbaden with Hugo Riemann. In 1901 he settled in Munich, where he taught organ and composition, and from 1907 he worked in Leipzig, where he was music director of the university until 1908 and professor of composition at the conservatoire until his death. He was also active internationally as a conductor and pianist in that period of time. Among his students there were Joseph Haas and George Szell. From 1911 he conducted the court orchestra at Meiningen until it was disbanded in 1914, when he moved to Jena. He died of a heart attack in Leipzig.
During a composing life of little more than 20 years, Reger produced an enormous output in all genres, nearly always in abstract forms, although few of his compositions are well known today. Many of his works are fugues or in variation form, including what is probably his best known orchestral work, the Variations and Fugue on a theme of Mozart (based on the opening theme of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Sonata, K. 331). He also wrote a large amount of music for organ, including the Fantasy and Fugue on BACH (this piece, based on the BACH motif, is considered one of the most difficult and demanding in organ literature). He was particularly attracted to the fugal form his entire life, once remarking: "Other people write fugues - I live inside them". He composed music in virtually every other genre too, (opera being a notable exception).
He was a firm supporter of absolute music and saw himself as being part of the tradition of Ludwig van Beethoven and Johannes Brahms. His work often combines the classical structures of these composers with the extended harmonies of Franz Liszt and Richard Wagner and the complex counterpoint of Johann Sebastian Bach. His organ music, though also influenced by Liszt, was provoked by that tradition. Of his orchestral pieces, his symphonic and richly elaborate Hiller Variations and Mozart Variations are justly remembered; of his chamber music the lighter-textured trios have retained a place in the repertory, along with some of the works for solo string instruments.
His late piano and two-piano music places him as a successor to Brahms in the central German tradition. He pursued intensively, and to its limits, Brahms's continuous development and free modulation, often also invoking, like Brahms, the aid of Bachian counterpoint: Many of his works are in variation and fugue forms; equally characteristic is a great energy and complexity of thematic growth.
His works were not revolutionary and could be considered retrospective as they followed classical and baroque forms such as the fugue and continuo. The influence of the latter can be heard in his chamber works which are deeply reflective and unconventional.
Mariä Wiegenlied
Max Reger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Und wiegt ihr Jesuskind,
Durch die Blätter leise
Weht der warme Sommerwind.
Zu ihren Füßen singt
Ein buntes Vögelein:
Schlaf, Kindlein, süße,
Hold ist dein Lächeln,
Holder deines Schlummers Lust,
Leg dein müdes Köpfchen
Fest an deiner Mutter Brust!
Schlaf, Kindlein, süße,
Schlaf nun ein!
The lyrics of Max Reger's song "Mariä Wiegenlied" tell the story of Mary sitting in a rose garden, gently rocking her baby Jesus to sleep. The warm summer wind rustles the leaves, and a colorful bird sings at her feet. The song is a lullaby, with Mary singing to her son to sleep, urging him to rest his weary head on her breast. The lyrics are filled with maternal tenderness and love.
Reger's "Mariä Wiegenlied" was composed in 1899, and it has remained one of his most beloved works. The song is set to the text of a poem by Martin Boelitz, which was translated from the original German into English as "Mary's Lullaby." The poem and song celebrate the intimate bond between mother and child, and the beauty and serenity of the natural world.
Overall, the lyrics of "Mariä Wiegenlied" are a beautiful expression of love, tenderness, and maternal care. The song is a testament to the power of music to evoke emotion and connect people in profound ways.
Line by Line Meaning
Maria sitzt im Rosenhag
Mary is sitting in a garden full of roses
Und wiegt ihr Jesuskind,
And rocks her baby Jesus gently
Durch die Blätter leise
The leaves make a soft rustling sound
Weht der warme Sommerwind.
As the warm summer breeze blows.
Zu ihren Füßen singt
At her feet a colorful bird is singing
Ein buntes Vögelein:
A small colorful bird:
Schlaf, Kindlein, süße,
Sleep, sweet baby,
Schlaf nun ein!
Fall asleep now!
Hold ist dein Lächeln,
Your smile is so sweet and gentle,
Holder deines Schlummers Lust,
You rest so quietly
Leg dein müdes Köpfchen
Rest your tired head
Fest an deiner Mutter Brust!
Close to your mother's breast!
Schlaf, Kindlein, süße,
Sleep, sweet baby,
Schlaf nun ein!
Fall asleep now!
Writer(s): Max Reger, Kjetil Bjerkestrand, Martin Boelitz
Contributed by Evelyn M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Helber_Gui
1) Maria sitzt am Rosenhag und wiegt ihr Jesuskind,
durch die Blätter leiser weht der warme Sommerwind.
Zu ihren Füßen singt ein buntes Vögelein:
Schlaf, Kindlein, süße, schlaf nun ein!
Hold ist dein Lächeln, holder deines Schlummers Lust,
leg' dein müdes Köpfchen fest an deiner Mutter Brust!
Schlaf', Kindlein, süße, schlaf' nun ein!
2) Schlaf' wohl, du Himmelsknabe, schlaf' ein, mein Jesukind!
Englein fächeln leise dich zur Ruhe sanft und lind.
O heil'ger Knabe, deine Äuglein schließe zu:
Schlaf', Kindlein, süße, schlaf' nun ein!
Neig' dein müdes Köpfchen, schläfst du, ruht die laute Welt,
Gottes Auge wachet, blickt auf dich vom Himmelszelt.
Schlaf', Kindlein, süße, schlaf' nun ein!
Se quer algo bem feito, faça você mesmo kkkkk (risos).
@SilvanaSchmitt
Die Sängerin hat eine wunderbare Ausstrahlung und Anmut und singt das Wiegenlied zauberhaft und sehr berührend.
@thestick52
Love & light from Brazil... ❤️
@goldkehlchen1993
Irre, wie sanft sie die hohen Töne singt! Echt schön :3
@FranzFischerSDG
I am in tears thinking of Mary and Joseph that soon they have to escape the tyrant's slaughter to save the Baby Jesus. I was at the birth place of Jesus in the lower level of the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. Jesus became real to me ever since that visit.
@annalievanrooyen2103
How absolutely Devine! Bless you!
@catherinenelson8351
A clear, beautiful voice, controlled yet tender. A very lovely recording.
@tubina8912
höre es gerade auf 3sat "Christmas in Vienna - Glanzlichter" - wunderwunderschön! Tolle Stimme.
@petervanscozza3978
How Beautiful... Simply Beautiful. Please keep this posted forever.
@Gugelhupf108
Beautiful. Tender, well controlled, superb.
@leostmark
This is a beautiful rendition of this beautiful lullaby.