The first complete biography of Alois Hába, who is now in his early seventies, is being prepared by Dr. J. Vyslouzil, lecturer in musicology at the University of Brno, and I owe thanks to him for valuable co-operation in selecting and analysing examples of Hába's work. Few other composers have followed as clear cut a pattern of a life's work as Hába, who in the years 1921–23 made a significant breakthrough in several directions in his first mature works. This gave him enough material for development as a composer, theoretical thinker and teacher to last a lifetime. Of these works I have selected three, all written in the quartertone system, and hope to show in what way Hába was ahead of his contemporaries at that time.