Reger Thematic Catalogue/Catalogue of Reger Letters
From 1 May 2001 to 30 June 2009 the MRI has being preparing, funded by the Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) the double project of a new Thematic Catalogue of all compositions of Max Reger and of a Catalogue of Reger Letters. A matter of priority was the new Thematic Catalogue since the Thematic Catalogue published by Fritz Stein in 1953 is in many aspects out of date or inaccurate and anyway out of print. The new Thematic Catalogue contains in-depth information on each currently known work by Max Reger – may it be printed or unprinted, completed or fragmentary –, giving details on dedicatees, underlying texts, duration, first and/or early performances, sources, printed editions and relevant bibliographical references. Also the documentation of the works’ genesis (frequently supplying information never before published), is a central feature, drawing on printed and unprinted documentary evidence. The new Thematic Catalogue will reflect the current state of Reger research and be a thorough compendium on all of Reger’s works, including his arrangements and editions of music by other composers.
Verzeichnis der Werke Max Regers und ihrer Quellen – Reger-Werk-Verzeichnis (RWV).
Im Auftrag des Max-Reger-Instituts hrsg. von Susanne Popp in Zusammenarbeit mit Alexander Becker, Christopher Grafschmidt, Jürgen Schaarwächter und Stefanie Steiner, München: G. Henle, 2010. 2 Bde., zus. civ, 1616 S. (ISBN 978-3-87328-123-3) 429,00 €.
The Chronologische Verzeichnis der Briefe von Max Reger – Reger-Briefe-Verzeichnis (RBV) was initially worked out as a tool for internal use, but since January 2008 as a matter of priority, with full-time Research Assistants Dr. des. Stefan König and Dr. Agnes Michalak. It will be published in digital form.
With respect to the huge amount of letters having survived, written by Max Reger as untiring self-promoter, but also with respect to its impulsive rather than literary nature, a complete edition of Reger’s letters is currently impracticable. The edition of chosen correspondence, especially with his publishers, (see Publications), hence was a kind of compromise very much welcomed by musicologists and conoisseurs alike, to be continued well into the future. Still, it is highly desirable for musicological research to have a complete assessment of all of Reger’s letter, to document his everyday life, the creative process, success or failure of plans, performances, questions of interpretation and in some cases also aesthetic views expressed by Reger. The assessment of the letters with respect to the genesis of compositions was an essential precondition for the Reger Thematic Catalogue. Furthermore the compilation of all currently known postal items, complete with original holograph location, date, addressee, and excerpted content will offer Reger scholars the opportunity of detailed enquiries with respect to their individual research.
The whereabouts of many autographs of Max Reger, both music manuscripts and postal items, are unknown today. Since several manuscripts regarded as lost reappeared at auction in recent years, reasonable hope exists that many of the missing autographs are still extant. Reger’s autograph letters, too, are widely dispersed and continue to turn up regularly at auction; they constitute valuable evidence which often allows for a complete chronology of the origins of his works. The MRI is appreciative of any information regarding the location of Reger’s autographs - both of music and letters. We welcome any comments either by post or by e-mail.
