Reger: Bach Variations, Op. 81, Träume am Kamin Eden Walker

• Max Reger (1873 - 1916): Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Bach, Op. 81:
• 1Reger: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Bach, Op. 81: I. Thema. Andante (Quasi Adagio)01:50
• 2Reger: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Bach, Op. 81: II. Variation I. L'istesso Tempo01:26
• 3Reger: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Bach, Op. 81: III. Variation II. (Sempre espressivo ed assai Legato)01:19
• 4Reger: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Bach, Op. 81: IV. Variation III. Grave Assai03:18
• 5Reger: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Bach, Op. 81: V. Variation IV. Vivace01:08
• 6Reger: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Bach, Op. 81: VI. Variation V. Vivace01:36
• 7Reger: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Bach, Op. 81: VII. Variation VI. Allegro Moderato01:25
• 8Reger: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Bach, Op. 81: VIII. Variation VII. Adagio02:09
• 9Reger: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Bach, Op. 81: IX. Variation VIII. Vivace01:11
• 10Reger: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Bach, Op. 81: X. Variation IX. Grave e sempre molto Espressivo03:15
• 11Reger: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Bach, Op. 81: XI. Variation X. Poco Vivace01:01
• 12Reger: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Bach, Op. 81: XII. Variation XI. Allegro Agitato01:07
• 13Reger: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Bach, Op. 81: XIII. Variation XII. Andante Sostenuto02:31
• 14Reger: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Bach, Op. 81: XIV. Variation XIII. Vivace00:52
• 15Reger: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Bach, Op. 81: XV. Variation XIV. Con Moto01:48
• 16Reger: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Bach, Op. 81: XVI. Fugue - Sostenuto -Più moto - Adagio08:57
• Träume am Kamin, Op. 143:
• 17Reger: Träume am Kamin, Op. 143: I. Larghetto in B-Flat Major03:34
• 18Reger: Träume am Kamin, Op. 143: II. Con moto in E-Flat Major - Andante02:37
• 19Reger: Träume am Kamin, Op. 143: III. Molto adagio in A Major03:40
• 20Reger: Träume am Kamin, Op. 143: IV. Allegretto grazioso in E Major - Andante - Tempo Primo02:22
• 21Reger: Träume am Kamin, Op. 143: V. Agitato in B Minor02:50
• 22Reger: Träume am Kamin, Op. 143: VI. Poco vivace in A-Flat Major - Molto sostenuto - Tempo primo - Andante02:10
• 23Reger: Träume am Kamin, Op. 143: VII. Molto sostenuto in D Major04:12
• 24Reger: Träume am Kamin, Op. 143: VIII. Vivace (Etüde) in C Major01:11
• 25Reger: Träume am Kamin, Op. 143: IX. Larghetto in E-Flat Major04:05
• 26Reger: Träume am Kamin, Op. 143: X. Vivace (Humoreske) in D Minor - Meno mosso - Vivace - Un poco meno mosso - Adagio02:38
• 27Reger: Träume am Kamin, Op. 143: XI. Andantino in G Minor03:40
• 28Reger: Träume am Kamin, Op. 143: XII. Larghetto in D Major (Studie)04:10
• Total Runtime01:12:02

Info for Reger: Bach Variations, Op. 81, Träume am Kamin

A new recording of two major Reger cycles, by a fast-emerging British piano talent.

‘To fathom his all-powerful might, no human may accomplish’ – this is the text, from a duet in Bach’s Cantata BWV128, which Reger takes as the subject of his Bach Variations, and it may fairly be advanced that Reger accorded Bach a comparably divine status. At the age of just 31, Reger had by this stage assimilated not only Bachian counterpoint but its transformation through the ears and imaginations of Schumann and Brahms and others, and he proceeds to treat the theme with astonishing freedom, testing the technique of the performer while reaching for the limits of the theme’s musical possibilities over the course of 14 variations. The cycle concludes with a mighty fugue – or fugues, on separate subjects (of Reger’s own devising, eventually welded with the Bach theme). In his booklet essay, Eden Walker remarks that the final bars are ‘some of the most colossal and victorious of any in the entire piano repertoire.’

By contrast, as a salutary demonstration of Reger’s versatility, the Träume am Kamin present him at his most relaxed and intimate, and anyone who has found it hard to warm to Reger will surely find in this cycle a delightful entry-point to an often forbidding catalogue. ‘Dreams by the Fireside’ – Reger’s knotty chromatic harmony still underpins the progress of these Romantic sketches, but now disguised by a touch of the ‘lateness’ that comes over many artists towards the end of their lives or careers, whether or not they were aware of it. This cycle was Reger’s final piano cycle before his death in 1916, aged 41, and the mood of the cycle is perhaps also marked by a necessary escapism from the violent bloodshed around him.

Born in 1995, Eden Walker has become a specialist in the ultra-virtuoso end of Romantic piano writing at the hands of composers such as Alkan, Busoni and Godowsky (and Reger). Based in Hamburg, he now teaches at the Staatliche Jugendmusikschule, as well as furthering his own studies and giving concerts across Germany and the UK.

Eden Walker, piano

Eden Walker
born in in 1995, is a British pianist based in Hamburg, Germany. ​

His focus on delving into the underrepresented virtuoso piano works of composers such as Reger, Busoni, Alkan, and Godowsky has earned him a reputation as a pianist adept at navigating the technical and intellectual intricacies of this challenging repertoire.

His studies include those with Dr. Robert Markham at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in the United Kingdom, and with Prof. Jens Elvekjær at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Denmark, and the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Rostock in Germany, where he is presently a doctoral student in Musicology. This combination of practical skill and historical depth allows him to delve into the cultural contexts of the piano repertoire, reinforcing his commitment to preserving the legacy of overlooked composers. This dual perspective distinguishes him as a pianist with both technical prowess and a profound understanding of the intellectual nuances within the world of classical music.

Currently, Eden Walker serves as a teacher at the Staatliche Jugendmusikschule Hamburg, where he shares his knowledge and enthusiasm with the next generation of pianists.

His debut album marks a significant milestone in his dedication to the art of piano, reflecting a genuine commitment without unnecessary embellishments. This contribution to the musical community solidifies his place as a noteworthy and esteemed pianist.

Booklet for Reger: Bach Variations, Op. 81, Träume am Kamin