DOWNLOAD

REGER, Max – Motet ‘O Tod, Wie Bitter Bist Du’ (‘Oh Death, how bitter are you’), Op.110/3 – 8 CELLOS

Other Identification:
Reger composed the third motet “O Tod, wie bitter bist du” (English: Oh Death, how bitter are you) of the Opus 110 set for a five-part choir (SSATB, however often with sub-divisions) in Leipzig during July 1912. The text is taken from the Book Ecclesiastes (Jesus Sirach). Reger dedicated this complex work to Lili Wach. The score and parts were printed in October that year by Bote & Bock in Berlin, supplying also an anonymous translation to English. The motet was first performed on 10th November 1912 by the church choir of St. Lukas in Chemnitz, conducted by Georg Stolz

Despite the brevity of Reger’s career, he was most prodigious in output. Max Reger lived in times of change. His music represents both a late flowering of German Romanticism and a foretaste of the Modernism to come. His mature chamber works demonstrate the best of both worlds, combining expressivity with innovation. Max Reger was an important composer whose artistic worth far surpasses his still generally poor representation on the concert stage and in recordings. Away from fashion, he wrote music that was both ahead of its time and inextricably bound to the past.

Instrumentation:
OCTET OF EIGHT CELLOS
Arranged by David Johnstone

Downloads of 2 PDFs:
[1 – General Score
[2 – All individual parts

Approximate difficulty:
There is great, almost extreme, variation in dynamic expression. With the preparation for EIGHT cellos, this version is intended for very experienced players, even allowing for the fact that David Johnstone has transcribed the work a fourth downwards so as to be more accessible to cello ensembles; the upper playing register is moderate. However, although this setting results technically more comfortable, the chamber music complexities, part balancing and the need of understanding the harmonic movements are so important. This music is also well possible with a larger cello orchestra, though the presence of a conductor becomes more necessary.

Go back to this section and continue searching for more music

Go to COLLECTION POINT to receive all selected items

Poster of Johnstone-Music

Who plays Johnstone-Music?

Johnstone Music has been performed by orchestras and conservatories worldwide, earning international recognition in cello repertoire.

Free sheet music

Instantly download a wide variety of scores – from cello solos and chamber works to orchestral parts and educational material