Bresgen studied at the Munich Music Academy. He has taught composition at the Mozarteum in Salzburg since 1939, the same year that he founded a young people's conservatory in that city. He studied with Hindemith in 1950 and made some experiments in composing with 12-tone serialism. His compositions include orchestral and stage works, some of which include music, spoken text, dance and pantomime. He also wrote songs, chamber works and student music. Bresgen's influences were Hindemith, Orff, Bartok and Stravinsky.