Born at Grossdubrau near Bautzen on 4 December, 1913; studied organ at the Conservatory of Leipzig with F. Hogner and composition with J. N. David from 1935-1939; 1947 professor of composition at the “Franz-Liszt” Conservatory of Weimar; 1955, 1970 and 1978 National Prizes of the GDR; since 1961 member of the Academy of Arts of the GDR; 1966-1972 rector of the “Franz-Liszt” Conservatory of Weimar, member of the Governing body of the Union of Composers and Musicologists of the GDR.

(1913-1999)
Compositore e organista tedesco nato a Grossdubrau. Ha studiato a Lipsia, ed insegnato alla Hochschule für Musik di Weimar. Le sua musica caratterizzata da lirica cantabilità, in seguito si è arricchita da elementi dodecafonici ed aleatori.