Max Baumann was born on 20 November 1917 in Kronach (Upper Franconia) as the son of a music teacher. After studying in Halle and Passau, he came to Berlin in 1942 to take up permanent residence in the city, interrupted only by his military service and a two-year stint as conductor at the Stadttheater Stralsund. From 1946 to 1979, Max Baumann was a lecturer at the University of Music and was appointed professor in 1960. In 1953, he received the Art Prize of the City of Berlin, taught in the school music department from 1963 onwards, and also directed its Collegium musicum and choir. As a praeceptor musicus well versed in many fields, he taught a large number of students what can be taught and learned in music. With a few exceptions, he did not like to teach the subject of composition. ‘It requires inspiration,’ he said, ‘and you can't teach that.’
He made a name for himself in the city's public concert life as a conductor, choir director and pianist – especially in performances of 20th-century works. His chamber music, symphonic and church music compositions were performed numerous times.
After the death of the unforgettable cathedral music director Karl Forsters, he was director of the St. Hedwig's Cathedral Choir in Berlin until the appointment of cathedral music director Anton Lippe. In 1986, he was appointed Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great with Star by Pope John Paul II.
Max Baumann died on 17 July 1999 in Berlin.
Baumann's compositional oeuvre is wide-ranging: songs, piano works, chamber music for various ensembles, concertos for flute, horn, piano and organ, symphonies, stage works, e.g. ‘Pélléas und Melisande’ (commissioned by the Berlin Festival in 1954); choral works; Passion (1960); masses; German Vespers, organ works (complete CD recording), oratorio Auferstehung (Resurrection, 1980), dramatic cantata Libertas cruciata (1963); Cranach Oratorio (1972).
Max Baumann was born on 20 November 1917 in Kronach (Upper Franconia) as the son of a music teacher. After studying in Halle and Passau, he came to Berlin in 1942 to take up permanent residence...
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Max Baumann was born on 20 November 1917 in Kronach (Upper Franconia) as the son of a music teacher. After studying in Halle and Passau, he came to Berlin in 1942 to take up permanent residence in the city, interrupted only by his military service and a two-year stint as conductor at the Stadttheater Stralsund. From 1946 to 1979, Max Baumann was a lecturer at the University of Music and was appointed professor in 1960. In 1953, he received the Art Prize of the City of Berlin, taught in the school music department from 1963 onwards, and also directed its Collegium musicum and choir. As a praeceptor musicus well versed in many fields, he taught a large number of students what can be taught and learned in music. With a few exceptions, he did not like to teach the subject of composition. ‘It requires inspiration,’ he said, ‘and you can't teach that.’
He made a name for himself in the city's public concert life as a conductor, choir director and pianist – especially in performances of 20th-century works. His chamber music, symphonic and church music compositions were performed numerous times.
After the death of the unforgettable cathedral music director Karl Forsters, he was director of the St. Hedwig's Cathedral Choir in Berlin until the appointment of cathedral music director Anton Lippe. In 1986, he was appointed Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great with Star by Pope John Paul II.
Max Baumann died on 17 July 1999 in Berlin.
Baumann's compositional oeuvre is wide-ranging: songs, piano works, chamber music for various ensembles, concertos for flute, horn, piano and organ, symphonies, stage works, e.g. ‘Pélléas und Melisande’ (commissioned by the Berlin Festival in 1954); choral works; Passion (1960); masses; German Vespers, organ works (complete CD recording), oratorio Auferstehung (Resurrection, 1980), dramatic cantata Libertas cruciata (1963); Cranach Oratorio (1972).
