Bertold Hummel was born on 27 November 1925 in Hüfingen (Baden). From 1947 to 1954, he studied composition with Harald Genzmer and cello with Atis Teichmanis at the Musikhochschule Freiburg i. Breisgau. Concert tours as a composer and cellist followed from 1954 to 1956. In 1955 he married the violinist Inken Steffen, and the marriage produced 6 sons. From 1956 to 1963, Bertold Hummel was cantor in Freiburg i. Brsg. and freelancer for Südwestfunk Baden-Baden and was appointed composition teacher at the then State Conservatory in Würzburg in 1963. From 1963 to 1988, he headed the Studio for New Music in Würzburg and was appointed professor in 1974. From 1979 to 1987 he was President of the Würzburg Academy of Music (since 1988 its Honorary President) and since 1982 a member of the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts. He has given guest lectures and travelled to performances of his works in Europe, Australia, Egypt, South Africa, the CIS and the USA.

Bertold Hummel died on 9 August 2002 in Würzburg.

Awards

1956 Scholarship from the Federal Association of German Industry, 1960 Composition Prize from the City of Stuttgart, 1961 Robert Schumann Prize from the City of Düsseldorf, 1968 Scholarship: Cité des arts internationale de Paris, 1988 Cultural Prize from the City of Würzburg, 1996 Friedrich Baur Prize from the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts, 1998 Cultural Prize from the German Catholics.

Main works

Oratorio: Der Schrein der Märtyrer; chamber opera: Des Kaisers neue Kleider; 2 ballets: Die letzte Blume and Faustszenen, 3 symphonies, Visions (after the Apocalypse of St John) for large orchestra; Sinfonietta for large wind orchestra, concertos for solo instruments and orchestra (percussion concerto op.70), 5 masses, cantatas, motets, song cycles, chamber music, organ works, electronic compositions and music for children.