Max Reger Schmücke dich, Op. 67 No. 36

In a letter to the publishers Lauterbach & Kuhn in 1902 when he had only composed 50 of the chorale preludes, Max Reger (1873-1916) wrote, "None are technically difficult and the melodies have been collected by an organist of 30 years experience. I can surely say without any arrogance that since J. S. Bach, no such collection has been published!" Reger wrote the majority of the preludes in Munich between September 1901 and October 1902.
Reger's full title for the collection, has been translated as "Fifty-two easy preludes on the most common Lutheran chorales". In a 1904 letter to his friend Karl Straube, organist at the Thomaskirche, advising him on which pieces to perform in a Leipzig recital, Reger indicated his own preferences, picking out O Welt ich muß dich lassen and Vater unser as amongst the most beautiful.
Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele is a figural chorale prelude, meaning that it has an accompaniment built up from one or more figure or motive derived from the cantus firmus or newly composed. The chorale tune plays continuously throughout the prelude. The motives of the accompaniment are exposed and developed from the first introductory bars.
Recorded by Jacob Hofeling at the Bales Organ Recital Hall of the University of Kansas on Dec. 10, 2019.

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