Joseph Haas

8 Character Pieces Op. 15

As a pupil of Reger, Josef Haas exerted a great influence on the development of church music in the 20th Century. These organ pieces were written in 1907 and are published here in a new edition to mark the 125th anniversary of the composer's birth. While the influence of Max Reger is evident, these compositions are full of lovely musical ideas: the little pieces will be equally effective whether they are played individually as part of a church service or performed as a cycle in a concert setting. The expansive Prelude, the charming Idyll, the heartfelt Romance, the witty Capriccio, the clear lines of the Intermezzo, the Moment Musical with its staccato bass, the Canzone and finally the powerful Toccata all reveal a Romantic organist whom many lovers of the instrument should enjoy rediscovering.