Composer, pedagogue and church official, born in Weimar (Thuringia). He was the brother of the guitar pedagogue and university professor Ursula Peter (1924-1989). For her guitar method „Anfangsunterricht im Gitarrespiel” (2 vol.) und „Der Weg zum Solospiel” he wrote about 40 small pieces and song sets for one and two guitars. From 1945 to 1949 Peter studied church music at the University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar. His first position was in 1949 as cantor and organist in Bad Berka. From 1950 to 1961 Herbert Peter was a lecturer in organ playing, composition and adjacent subjects at the Thuringian church music school Eisenach and 1961-1991 Landeskirchenmusikdirektor at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thuringia. At the same time he was from 1961 to 1984 cantor at the Georgenkirche Eisenach and director of the Eisenach Bach Choir. In 1961, Herbert Peter was appointed director of the Thuringian church music school. This office he held until 1988. Since 1992, the composer lived together with his wife retired in Witzenhausen (Northern Hesse).
(Rainer Stelle)