killmayers first composition was "lorca-romanzen" after federico garcía lorca, premiered at the donaueschingen festival. in 1954 he composed a missa brevis, which was recorded and reviewed:young (29) munich-born composer wilhelm killmayer's missa brevis ripples with exciting, shifting rhythms and rises skillfully to a colorful series of blasting choral climaxes occasionally more reminiscent of the bandstand than the choir.