Notwithstanding the disparity in their age, nationality and background, both Hubert Parry (1848–1918) and Max Reger (1873–1916) were subject to a common heritage of European musical art that informed and shaped their compositional development. This can be seen in its most striking form in their shared reverence for and debt to Johann Sebastian Bach. While there is a considerable volume of literature on Reger and Bach, Parry’s response to the Leipzig master is less widely known outside Britain. In drawing some parallels between the organ music of the two composers, focusing in particular on the chorale-based compositions, I shall show how the spirit of Bach infused Parry’s organ works in a similar way to Reger’s, relating this to issues of universality and nationalism. In the process I shall touch on Reger’s reception in Britain during the latter part of Parry’s life.

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