Abel was cantor and organist at the Immanuelkirche in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg from 1930 to 1970. His predecessor in this position since 1903 was his father Richard Abel.[1] From 1959, Otto Abel was also state church music director for the eastern region of the Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg and from 1956 church music lecturer at the Evangelische Verlagsanstalt in Berlin (East). Abel composed several hymns and works for the organ.