Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott, Op. 27

Background

Reger was raised Catholic but was fascinated by the variety of melodies of Protestant hymns, and used quotations from them throughout his life. He composed seven chorale fantasias in Weiden between 1898 and 1900, inspired by a fantasia on "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern", Op. 25 (1895) of his teacher Heinrich Reimann. Reger's fantasias follow Reimann's model of setting individual stanzas, connected by interludes. Reger wrote the works for Karl Straube, whom he met in April 1898 when he played concerts at the Frankfurt Paulskirche, including parts of Reger's Suite for organ, Op. 16. Straube believed in Reger as a composer and premiered several of his works from manuscript.

The text of the hymn was written by Martin Luther, published in 1599. Reger composed the fantasia in Weiden in August and September 1898, and dedicated it to Karl Straube, who played the first performance in Wesel on 20 September 1898. It was the first work written for Straube, and the first work by Reger to find success with the public, regarded as his breakthrough as a composer.

The fantasia was published by Rob. Forberg in Leipzig in March 1899. Reger had planned it as his Op. 27a, with Op. 27b a fantasia on "Freu’ dich sehr, o meine Seele". The second work was published by Jos. Aibl Verlag as Op. 30. Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott, as other chorale fantasias by Reger, is more often performed in concert than in liturgical church services, because of its dimensions. Reger commented the alleged difficulty of his organ works in 1900 to his friend the organist Gusav Beckmann: "Meine Orgelsachen sind schwer, es gehört ein über die Technik souverän herrschender geistvoller Spieler dazu" (My organ pieces are difficult; they need a skillful player who masters the technique).