significant German composer; b. Auchsesheim, near Donauworth, May 17, 1901; d. Inning, near Munich, July 10, 1983. Egk studied piano with Anna Hirzel-Langenhan and composition with CARL ORFF in Munich, where he made his permanent home.

Primarily interested in theater music, he wrote several scores for a Munich puppet theater. He was also active on the radio, then wrote BALLET music to his own scenarios and a number of successful OPERAS. He was active as an opera conductor and music pedagogue. He conducted at the Berlin State Opera from 1938 to 1941, and was head of the German Union of Composers during World War II.

Unlike other composers who fled the Nazi regime, Egk enjoyed favor under the repressive government. He was commissioned to write music for the Berlin Olympiad in 1936, for which he received a Gold Medal. He also received a special commission of 10,000 marks from the Nazi Ministry of Propaganda. After the war, he stood trial for his Nazi sympathies but was cleared of any wrongdoing. From 1950 to 1953 Egk was director of the Berlin Hochschule für Musik.

As a composer Egk continued the tradition of RICHARD WAGNER and RICHARD STRAUSS, without excluding, however, modern techniques, including ATONAL writing. His rhythms were often inventive and bold. He is best known for his dramatic works.