composer musicologist politician university professor
After finishing school he worked as an apprentice at a bank, and in 1926 he started studying music at Heidelberg University, where in 1930, he completed his Doctor of Philosophy on the 17th century chamber music of North German composers.
He has written numerous musicological articles, and an important book on English chamber music His pupils included Serge Hovey. As a musicologist he edited numerous manuscripts by English composers of the Tudor/Renaissance period (see eg Englische Fantasien aus dem 17 Jahrhundert: für drei Streichinstrumente = English fantasias from the 17th century: for three string instruments, Online Computer Library Center 2757300).
He received his first piano lessons at the age of six, and started composing at the age of eleven.
He became a pupil of Hanns Eisler. In the United Kingdom he researched English chamber music of the 17th century and lectured for the Workers Educational Association.
In 1939 He started lecturing at Bedford College, London and in 1945 he was given a guest professorship at King"s College, Cambridge. He returned to East Germany (German Democratic Republic) in 1948 and became one of the most influential figures of music culture in the German Democratic Republic. In 1982 the second edition of his book "Early English Chamber music" was published.
Socialist Unity Party of Germany, Communist Party of Germany.
Academy of Arts of the German Democratic Republic. Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany.
