Bernd Alois Zimmermann is considered one of the most original and, at the same time, most contradictory composers of the 20th century. Raised in a small village in the Rhineland, shaped by a monastic upbringing and the experiences of war, he developed a musical language in which past, present, and future are intricately interwoven. His pluralistic compositional technique incorporated jazz, literary collage, serialism, and sacred elements in equal measure-thus defying the aesthetic boundaries of his time.

This personal portrait by his daughter Bettina Zimmermann is based on letters, diaries, photographs, and memories from his companions. It traces Zimmermann's life journey from childhood through the creation of his major stage works to the final years of his life. In doing so, it paints a picture of a man who lived between familial closeness, intellectual curiosity, and artistic uncompromisingness.

At the same time, the book offers insight into the cultural and music-political debates of postwar Germany and into the question of what forms contemporary music could take.

A compelling exploration of the life and work of a composer whose music has lost none of its urgency to this day.

The first original German edition was published by Wolke Verlag in March 2018 and is still available.