Born in 1972, Martin Welzel received his musical training in Bremen from Michael Landsky, Wilfried Langosz and Käte van Tricht. He later studied with Daniel Roth, Wolfgang Rübsam, Kristin Merscher and Gerald Hambitzer at the University of Music in Saarbrücken, where he earned Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in sacred music and organ performance, as well as an Artist Diploma in organ performance. He holds a DMA degree in organ performance from the University of Washington in Seattle, where he studied with Carole Terry.

Martin Welzel’s career has included numerous recitals in Europe and the United States, notably at Notre Dame Cathedral and Saint-Sulpice in Paris, Washington National Cathedral, Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, Stanford University, Southern Methodist University and St John’s Church in Helsinki. In 2004, Martin Welzel and his wife, Alexandra Kertz-Welzel, formed the Emerald City Duo, exploring the repertoire of the nineteenth and twentieth century for organ and piano.

Reger enjoys a particularly high reputation among organists, to whose repertoire he made important additions. Born in Bavaria, he was a pupil of the important theorist Hugo Riemann and taught at the University of Leipzig before his appointment as conductor of the Meiningen Court Orchestra in 1911. In addition to his activities as a teacher, conductor and composer, he was also a pianist and organist.

Orchestral Music

Among a variety of orchestral works, including a Piano Concerto and a Violin Concerto, Reger’s Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Mozart, an arrangement of his work of the same title for two pianos, shows, typically, a resourceful and sometimes complex use of the theme on which it is based.

Chamber Music

Reger wrote a considerable amount of chamber music of all kinds, including a number of violin sonatas and other duo sonatas, as well as string quartets and works for other groups of players. While of interest, nothing of this has become a part of popular repertoire, either for players or audiences.

Vocal and Choral Music

Among choral compositions by Reger the eight Geistliche Gesänge (‘Spiritual Songs’), Op. 138 have proved particularly moving. Once again, however, his choral works and songs have failed to achieve any significant position in performing repertoire.

Piano Music

Reger wrote a number of short piano pieces. His Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Mozart, Op. 132a for two pianos, is probably the best known of his compositions for piano. Other sets of variations include Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Beethoven, Op. 86 for two pianos, and Variations and Fugue on a Theme of J.S. Bach, Op. 81 and Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Telemann, Op. 134 for one piano.

Organ Music

Reger’s organ music offers a considerable challenge to performers and some works are said to have been composed as just such a challenge to his friend, the organist Karl Straube. Notable organ works include chorale fantasias on Ein’ feste Burg ist unser Gott and other Lutheran chorale tunes. His compositions for organ include a Fantasia and Fugue on B-A-C-H.