German composer Harald Genzmer dies at age 98

December 24, 2007

German Composer of contemporary classical music Harald Genzmer died last week in Munich, Germany. He was 98 years old.

Born on February 9, 1909 in Blumenthal, near Bremen, Germany, he studied composition with Paul Hindemith at the Berlin Hochschule für Music beginning in 1928.

In 1938 he taught at the Volksmusikschule Berlin-Neukölln. During the second world war he served as a clarinetist.

From 1946 to 1957 he taught at the Musikhochschule in Freiburg im Breisgau. From 1957 to 1974 he taught at the Munich Hochschule für Musik.

Among his notable students was the Egyptian composer Gamal Abdel-Rahim.