Hans Maier and Bertold Hummel met as students in Freiburg im Breisgau in the early 1950s. From 1957 onwards, both worked part-time at the nursery school teacher training college there: Maier in the subject of hymnology, and Hummel as a music teacher. Their mutual student, Adelheid Dilly (1938–2026), married the newly habilitated professor of political science in 1962. Their paths crossed again in 1973, following the conversion of the Würzburg State Conservatoire into a university of music. They met in their new roles – as vice-president and Minister of Culture – at meetings and public events. Their friendly relationship was quickly re-established. Through their families (the Maiers had six daughters, the Hummels six sons), they maintained loose contact, exchanging letters and making music together on special occasions. In the 1970s, Maier invited Hummel to the ‘Church and Art’ discussion group, which featured prominent figures, and sought his advice on decisions relating to music policy.

Hans Maier takes a keen interest in Hummel’s compositional work, studies his latest organ compositions, and attends performances of Hummel’s works in Munich with his wife, as well as the world premiere of the oratorio ‘Der Schrein der Märtyrer’ in Würzburg. The couple also attended the composer’s Requiem at Würzburg Cathedral. In memory of his friend, Hans Maier took on the patronage ofthe “Bertold Hummel Competition”for students at European conservatoires until 2022, personally presenting the prizes even at the age of 86.

They express their mutual admiration in the publications *A Plea for the Original Oeuvre of the Contemporary Composer Bertold Hummel * and *Encounters with Hans Maier*.

Biography
Hans Maier was born in Freiburg im Breisgau in 1931 and completed his Abitur in 1951. After studying and obtaining a doctorate in history, Romance languages, German studies and philosophy, Hans Maier became a research assistant at the Department of Political Science at the University of Freiburg in 1961. Following his habilitation, he was appointed Professor of Political Science at the LMU Munich in 1962. From 1970 to 1986, he served as Bavarian Minister of State for Education and Cultural Affairs. From 1976 to 1988, Maier served as President of the Central Committee of German Catholics. From 1988 to 1999, he held a professorship in Christian Worldview, Religious and Cultural Theory at LMU Munich (the Guardini Chair). Maier was a member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences, the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts and the Bavarian Order of Maximilian. Hans Maier died in Munich in 2026.