1909 study at the Hochsche Konservatorium in Frankfurt, composition lessons with Arnold Mendelssohn and Bernhard Sekles as well as violin lessons with Adolph Rebner. 1915-1923 concertmaster at the opera house in Frankfurt, with interruption for military service (1917/18) and chamber musician in Rebner's quartet (violin and viola). 1922-1929 violist at the Amar Quartet in Zurich. 1921-1926 contributions to the annual "Kammermusikalische Aufführungen zur Förderung Zeitgenössischer Tonkunst" in Donaueschingen, also occupation as artistic director. 1927 appointment as teacher for composition at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik, at the same time extension of his knowledge through studies in the history of music and music theory. 1929 premiere of his opera "Neues vom Tage" at the Krolloper.

Ban of music from being performed by the NS regime due to his marriage to Gertrud Rottenberg (because of her Jewish origin), emigration to the USA in 1938. From 1940 to 1953 teacher at Yale University in New Haven. 1951 professor of music theory, composition and music pedagogy at the University of Zurich, settlement in Switzerland, where he worked until 1957. From 1957 occupation as composer and conductor.

Since 1940 member of the American Academy of Arts and Science, since 1947 member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and since 1962 member of the American Philosophical Society History. Numerous honors.

1955 presentation of his overture "Begleitmusik zu einer Lichtspielszene" (1930) by the Staatskappelle led by the general music director Paul Schmitz during the "week of modern theatre" at the Staatstheater Kassel of the opening of documenta.