Hans-Martin Linde was born in 1930 and grew up in a musical family in Iserlohn, Germany. In 1947 he studied flute, composition and choral conducting at the Freiburg Conservatory. After graduating, he worked as a flute teacher and choir conductor in his hometown. At this time he became interested in playing the recorder and baroque flute. Hans-Martin Linde has performed as a flutist in many international concert halls. Hans-Martin Linde published articles on the practice and methods of playing the recorder, and his compositions for recorder were firmly rooted in the repertoire of this instrument in the 20th century. He uses avant-garde game techniques and experiments with new compositional structures, yet there is always a detectable connection with tonality and old forms.