Weihnachten

Number 3 from Opus 145 is a dark and brooding piece, reminding us of the true meaning of Christmas - that God came down from heaven to die as atonement for our sin. After the central climax of the crucifixion, Reger weaves a magical close to the piece, intermingling the themes of the German Christmas carols "Vom Himmel Hoch" and "Stille Nacht", which I have chosen to play on the Choir Lieblich Gedacht 8 and Solo Cor Anglais 8, respectively.

Whilst not one of Reger's more technically demanding works, this is a real expressive tour-de-force, drawing on the full tonal resources of the organ, in this case the XL version of Hereford, making extensive use of the enclosed Choir and 16' Lieblich Bourdon.