Hermann Baumann was born near Hamburg in 1934. Baumann was 17 years old by the time he started playing the horn.

After brief studies with the eminent teacher and solo hornist Fritz Huth,
he performed as the principal horn in the Hamburg Chamber Orchestra, Dortmunder Philharmoniker and the Südwestrundfunk (SWR) Radio Orchestra in Stuttgart.

Baumann’s solo career started by winning the first price in the famous ARD contest in Munich in 1964.

In 1967 Baumann became the Professor of Horn at the Folkwang University in Essen.

Further more, Baumann counts as a remarkable pioneer who brought baroque horn parties back to the stage. His early records of extremely high horn parties in Bach’s cantatas under direction of Karl Richter are evidence of this proficiency. In addition, his artistry and acclamations distinguish him as the Renaissance virtuoso of the natural horn in classical music for his achievements:

– 4 Mozart horn concertos with Nikolaus Harnoncourt in 1973,

– Brahms trio and Mozart concertos with Pinchas Zukerman.

– Mozart and Strauss under direction of Sir Simon Rattle and in 1983,

– Györgi Ligeti writes his trio for horn, violin and piano, as a world premiere.

With Kurt Masur and the Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig they produced recordings of Richard Strauss, Carl Maria von Weber and Reinhold Glière.

In Paris 1999, the Historic Brass Society presented Professor Baumann with the Christopher Monk Award for his outstanding, lifelong contribution to music on historical instruments.

It can be said, that Hermann Baumann is the most versatile horn-player there ever was.