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The Swiss-born French composer and pedagogue; Pierre Wissmer, went to Paris to study with Jean Roger-Ducasse (composition) at the Conservatoire, Daniel-Lesur (counterpoint) at the Schola Cantorum, and Munch (conducting) at the École Normale de Musique.
Returning to Geneva, Pierre Wissmer taught composition at the Conservatory from 1944 to 1948. He was active as a music critic, and also served as head of the chamber-music department of the Geneva Radio. After serving as assistant director of programming of Radio Luxembourg from 1951 to 1957, he was director of programming of Luxembourg Television from 1957 to 1963. In 1958 he became a naturalized French citizen. He was director of the Schola Cantorum in Paris from 1957 to 1963, and of the École Nationale de Musique in Le Mans from 1969 to 1981. He was also professor of composition and orchestration at the Geneva Conservatory from 1973 to 1986. In 1983 he was awarded the Grand Prix Musical of Geneva for his creative efforts. His output reveals an adept handling of traditional and contemporary styles. |
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Dramatic:
Le Beau dimanche, ballet (1939; Geneva, March 20, 1944)
Marion ou la belle au tricorne, comic opera (1945; Radio Suisse Romande, Geneva, April 16, 1947)
Capitaine Bruno, opera (Geneva, Nov. 9, 1952)
Léonidas ou la cruauté mentale, opera bouffe (Paris, September 12, 1958)
Alerte, puits 21, ballet (1963)
Christina et les Chimères, ballet (1964)
Orchestral:
Mouvement for Strings (1937)
3 piano concertos (1937, 1948, 1971)
9 symphonies (1938; 1951; 1955; 1962; 1969; 1975-1077; 1983; 1985-1986; 1988-1989)
Antoine et Cléopâtre, symphonic suite (1943)
3 violin concertos (1944, 1954, 1987)
La Mandrellina, overture (1952)
Diverlimento (1953)
L'Enfant et la rose, symphonic variations (1957)
Clamavi, triptych (1957)
Clarinet Concerto (1960)
Oboe Concerto (1963)
Concerlo valcrosiano (1966)
Concertino-croisière for Flute, Piano, and Strings (1966)
Stèle for Strings (1969)
Triptyque romand (1972)
Dialogue for Bassoon or Cello and Orchestra (1974)
Variations sur un Noël imaginaire (1975)
Symphonietta concertante for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra (1982)
Musique à divers temps for Strings (1988-1989)
Chamber:
3 string quartets (1937, 1949, 1972)
Sérénade for Oboe, Clarinet, and Horn (1938)
Divertissement sur un choral for 11 Instruments (1939)
Clarinet Sonatina (1941)
Violin Sonatina (1946)
Prestilagoyana for 2 Guitars (1959)
Quadrige for Flute, Violin, Cello, and Piano (1961)
Sonatina for Flute and Guitar (1962)
Wind Quintet (1964)
Partita for Guitar (1971)
Trio Adelfiano for Flute, Cello, and Piano (1978)
Quattro piccoli quadri Veneziano for Violin, Viola, and Cello (1984)
Askok for Flute and Guitar (1984)
Ritratto for 2 Guitars (1984)
Propos for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1986)
Tre pezzi valcorsiani for 2 Guitars (1987)
Automne for Guitar (1988-1989)
Primavera for Guitar (1988-1989)
Keyboard: Piano:
Sonata (1949)
Trois Etudes (1967)
Trois Silhouettes (1968)
Bea, Sandrine et Monsieur Pompon (le chat} (1986)
Cavaliere e cavallo (1986)
3 Romances for Piano, 4-hands (1988-1989)
Épisodes (1988-1989)
Musique pour jeunes virtuoses (1988-1989)
Organ:
Réflexions (1973)
Apôtre Paul (1985)
Vocal:
Naïdes for Narrator, Soli, Chorus, and Orchestra (1941)
Hérétique et Relapse for Tenor, Chorus, and Orchestra (1962)
Un Banquier sans visage for Soli, Dancers, and Orchestra (1964)
Le Quatrième Mage, oratorio for Soli, Chorus, and Orchestra (1965)
I Cadieni for Voices and Orchestra (1980)
choruses
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