Heinz Werner Zimmermann

Heinz Werner Zimmermann (11 August 1930 – 25 January 2022) was a German composer, focused on contemporary sacred music.

[3] After passing his examinations at the Freiburg Conservatory, supervised by Harald Genzmer, he became Fortner's successor in Heidelberg immediately.

[1][3] Here he maintained close contacts with the musicologist Thrasybulos Georgiades, whose rhythm and language studies influenced him the most, along with his occupation with American spirituals and jazz.

[1][5] Zimmermann's best-known works are his sacred motets with plucked double bass, his organ psalms, and his "Prosalieder".

[3] One of his chief works is the Missa profana which he created over 15 years,[1] set for a vocal quartet, choir, dixieland jazz band, tape, and large orchestra.