German-born British composer and pianist (born 1966) working in the post-minimalist/neoclassical space; studied at the University of Edinburgh and with Luciano Berio in Florence, and co-founded the contemporary-classical ensemble Piano Circus in 1989. Landmark early works Memoryhouse (2002) and The Blue Notebooks (2003) blend childhood memory and war commentary into spare, aching composition. Best known within wellness contexts for Sleep (2015), an eight-hour ambient piece for piano, strings, electronics, and vocals developed in consultation with sleep neuroscientist David Eagleman – described by Richter as a lullaby for a frenetic world.

Representative albums: Sleep (2015), The Blue Notebooks (2003), Memoryhouse (2002). Recommended starting album: Sleep.

Mood and energy: Spacious, slow, low energy. Recommended uses: Sleep, deep rest, meditation.

Sacred Ground Confidence Score: 5 out of 5 stars   Final recommendation: Approved

Why this artist belongs in Sacred Sounds: Sleep is a landmark, scientifically-informed work purpose-built for exactly the use case this collection serves – an essential inclusion for the Sleep Collections.