Designs and Graphs

There is, however, one aspect of Egmont Köhler's biographythat merits special attention. Before taking up the study of mathematics atthe age of 31, he had completed training as a musician (studying bothcomposition and violoncello at the Musikhochschule in Berlin), and workedas a cellist in a symphony orchestra for some years. This accounts for hisinterest in the combinatorial aspects of music. His work and lectures inthis direction had begun to attract the interest of many musicians, and hehad commenced work on a book on mathematical aspects of musical theory. Itis tragic indeed that his early death prevented the completion of his work;the surviving paper on the classification and complexity of chordsindicates the loss that his death meant to the area, as he was almostuniquely qualified to bring mathematics and music together, being aprofessional in both fields.