Werner Egk was born Werner Joseph Mayer on May 17, 1901 in Auchsesheim, today a district of Donauwörth. The pseudonym Egk is an anagram of the initials of his wife, whom he married in 1923, and was used by the composer as his official surname from 1937.

After training in singing and piano while still at school, he studied composition and conducting in Frankfurt am Main and later with Carl Orff in Munich.

During the National Socialist era, Egk rose to become one of the state's most important composers and, after the Second World War, worked as director of the "Hochschule für Musik" in West Berlin from 1950 to 1953. He was active in various national and international conductors' associations until the 1970s.

His musical work is attributed to German neoclassicism and modern music theater. He composed several operas, ballets and orchestral works as well as vocal music, Singspiele and the film music for the Heinz Rühmann film "Der Herr vom anderen Stern" from 1948.

On the occasion of his 80th birthday, a concert was held in Wiesbaden in Egk's honor. During this visit, the composer was received by the city council in the town hall and signed the city's Golden Book.

Werner Egk died on July 10, 1983 in Inning am Ammersee.