Max Reger, born Johann Baptist Joseph Maximilian Reger on March 19, 1873, in Brand, Bavaria, was a prominent German composer, pianist, organist, conductor, and academic teacher. He passed away on May 11, 1916, in Leipzig at the age of 43. Reger was educated at the Wiesbaden Conservatory and the Royal Conservatory in Leipzig. Throughout his career, he held significant positions such as a professor at the Royal Conservatory in Leipzig, a musical director at the Leipzig University Church, and a music director at the court of George II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen.

Reger's compositions initially focused on Lieder, chamber music, choral music, and works for piano and organ. He later expanded his repertoire to include orchestral compositions, such as the acclaimed "Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Mozart" (1914), and works for choir and orchestra like "Gesang der Verklärten" (1903) and "Der 100. Psalm" (1909).

His musical style is noted for its postromantic characteristics, and he was one of the last composers to breathe life into 19th-century musical traditions. Reger's influence extended to composers like Arthur Honegger and Paul Hindemith. Among his notable works are the "Böcklin Suite," "Suite in the Old Style," and various organ fantasies and fugues. His contributions to music were significant, particularly in the realm of organ music, where he utilized Baroque forms to great effect.