Baumann, Max (Georg)

Baumann, Max (Georg), German composer and pedagogue; b. Kronach, Nov. 20, 1917; d. Berlin, July 18, 1999. He was a student of Noetel and Blacher at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik. In 1946 he joined its faculty as a lecturer, and then was a prof. of composition there from 1961 until his retirement in 1979. In 1953 he won the arts prize of the City of Berlin and in 1963 the Prix Italia. He composed much sacred vocal music.

Works

DRAMATIC: Ballet: Pelleas und Melisande (Berlin, Sept. 20, 1954). ORCH.: Piano Concerto (1953; Berlin, March 15, 1955); Petite Suite for Transverse Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, and Strings (1953); Perspektiven I (1957) and 71 (1967); Orchester-Variationen (Berlin, Jan. 27, 1959); Sinfonia piccola for Strings (1960). CHAMBER: Cello Sonata (1947); 3 string quartets (1950, 1951, 1953); Sonata for Solo Violin (Berlin, Dec. 1, 1955); 3 Radierungen for Violin and Piano (1958); Octet for Strings, Clarinet, Bassoon, and Horn (1964); also organ and piano pieces. VOCAL: Missa 1953 for Chorus (1953); Schutzengel-Messe for Chorus and Organ ad libitum (1955); Kleine Marienmesse for 2 Soloists and Organ ad libitum (1958); Passion for Soprano, Baritone, Speaker, Mixed Chorus, Speaking Chorus, and Orch. (1960); Libertas cruciata, cantata for Soloists, Speaker, Chorus, Speaking Chorus, and Orch. (1963); Deutsche Vesper for Soprano, Speaker ad libitum, Chorus, and Orch. (1964); Der Venus süss und herbe Früente for Soloists, Speaker, Chorus, and Orch. (1972); Auferstehung, oratorio for Soloist, Chorus, Speaking Chorus, and Orch. (1980); Sonnengesang for Voice and Piano (1992); other choral works and songs.

Bibliography

A Geck-Böttger and J. Overath, eds., Te decet hytnnus: Festgabe für M. B. zur Vollendung des 75. Lebensjahre (Sankt Augustin, 1992).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire