Education
He studied at the University of Berlin, studying with Curt Sachs and Erich von Hornbostel, and graduating in 1934.
He studied at the University of Berlin, studying with Curt Sachs and Erich von Hornbostel, and graduating in 1934.
He lived in Egypt and specialized in the music and organology of Ancient Egypt, and survivals thereof in Egyptian traditional music He wrote about Egypt"s tradition of cheironomy (as practiced in Ancient Egypt and still found in Coptic music) for the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. He also played the piano and organ, and conducted Hickmann first investigated Egyptian music in 1932-1933, during a visit to the Siwa Oasis, and settled in Egypt in 1933.
He operated a conservatory called Musica Viva, located at 1 Seket el Fadl in downtown Cairo.
His notable students included the composer Rifaat Garrana.