Hans Otte

Full biography Hans Otte

Hans Otte was a German composer born in Plauen in 1926. He is known for his minimalist and meditative style, often inspired by Zen Buddhism. Otte began playing piano at a young age and went on to study music in Germany and Paris. He served in World War II and was captured by British forces, spending time in a prisoner of war camp in Egypt.

After the war, Otte returned to Germany and continued his musical studies, eventually becoming a professor at the Academy of Music in Cologne. He began composing in earnest in the 1950s and 60s, and his most famous work, "Das Buch der Klänge" (The Book of Sounds), was written in 1979. This piece for piano is considered one of the great works of minimalist music, and is often compared to the works of composers like Steve Reich and Philip Glass.

In addition to his work as a composer and professor, Otte was also an accomplished pianist and performed extensively throughout Europe. He died in 2007 at the age of 81, leaving behind a legacy as one of the great innovators in minimalist music.