Kurt Hessenberg was born in 1908 in Frankfurt/ Main. From 1927–1931 Hessenberg studied at the Leipzig Conservatory. Among his teachers were Günter Raphael (composition) and Robert Teichmüller (piano). In 1933 Hessenberg became a teacher at the Hoch'sche Konservatorium in Frankfurt am Main. Hessenberg was appointed professor of composition at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Frankfurt in 1953 and taught there until his retirement in 1973. He died 1994.
Hessenberg's work contributed significantly to the repertoire of the Protestant churches in the 20th century. Among his most noted students were Hans Zender and Peter Cahn.
Published by Bärenreiter in “Choralvorspiele für den gottesdienstlichen Gebrauch”, Vol. 4