Gustav Bumcke (18 July 1876 – 4 July 1963) was a German composer and founder of the first German saxophone orchestra.Born in Berlin, after attending the Oberrealschule and subsequent years as a commercial apprentice, Bumcke took lessons in composition with Gustav Kulenkampff (1848-1921), Max Bruch and Engelbert Humperdinck, piano with Hugo Rüdel and Otto Neitzel, and trumpet with Julius Koslek (1835-1905). From 1900 to 1902, he was a theatre director in Constance, Heilbronn and Bayreuth. In 1902, on a trip to Paris, he met the son of Adolphe Sax. Bumcke brought eight saxophones (instruments with the "beautiful, noble sound") of all sizes with him to Berlin and since then devoted all his creative energy to the classical saxophone in Germany.