Following a few years of playing in provincial orchestras, Hermann Rudolph Konrad Baumann (b. 1934) was appointed first horn in the Dortmund, and later the Stuttgart Radio orchestras. After winning the International Music Competition in 1964, he decided to accept a professorship in Essen, and pursue a career as a horn soloist.

Besides achieving world acclaim as a horn soloist, Baumann revived a new interest in performing with the Baroque natural and Classical hand horns. His period instrument recordings have received rave reviews.

Besides his abundant teaching, performance and recording dates, Baumann also makes time to lecture and teach in master classes.