German composer Raben dies
23 Jan 2007
Peer Raben, a regular collaborator of director R.W Fassbinder and strong presence in European film music, has died at the age of 66 after a battle with cancer. The German-born composer scored dozens of films for the German auteur, with whom he started the 'Ensembles Antiteater' in Munich in 1970, including Lola, Querelle and Die Venusfalle. Other films have included 2046, Bismarck and Kontakt.
It was just last October that Raben was honoured by the World Soundtrack Academy with a 'lifetime achievement award', at the 6th World Soundtrack Awards in Ghent. The composer, who was scheduled to appear, could not due to ill health. A selection of his music was performed by the Flemish Radio Orchestra at the event.