Composer Mauricio Kagel was born in Buenos Aires in 1931. While studying to be a composer Kagel was also very involved with world literature and with writers in Argentina. In 1957, Kagel moved to Cologne, Germany, and became one of the most prominent members of the emerging New Music scene in Europe, writing works full of musical surprise, theatricality, and absurd comedy. He succeeded Stockhausen as the director of the Cologne Courses for New Music in 1969, helped found the Cologne Ensemble for New Music, and was invited to act as composer in residence around the world. He died in Cologne on September 18, 2008.

Werner Klüppelholz is a professor of music education at the University of Siegen.