Hermann Schroeder (1904-1984) is one of the best-known German organ composers of the 20th century. His late piano work Fünf Charaktere (1974) is based less on contrapuntal and neo-classical composition techniques (like the two early piano sonatas) but rather on the tonal possibilities of the piano. The five movements which live on the changes of different tempos and emotions bear titles that refer to the mood and the character of the music: Capriccio - Legende - Scherzando - Elegie - Burleske. Thus, the pieces are not far away from being Romantic character pieces. Fünf Charaktere is published as printed edition for the first time, based on the autograph left in the composer's estate.