Wissmer, Pierre

Wissmer, Pierre, Swiss-born French composer and pedagogue; b. Geneva, Oct. 30,1915; d. Valcros, France, Nov. 4, 1992. He went to Paris to study with Roger-Ducasse (composition) at the Cons., Daniel-Lesur (counterpoint) at the Schola Cantorum, and Munch (conducting) at the École Normale de Musique. Returning to Geneva, he taught composition at the Cons. (1944-48). He was active as a music critic and also served as head of the chamber music dept. of the Geneva Radio. After serving as asst. director of programming of Radio Luxembourg (1951-57), he was director of programming of Luxembourg Television (1957-63). In 1958 he became a naturalized French citizen. He was director of the Schola Cantorum in Paris (1957-63) and of the École Nationale de Musique in Le Mans (1969-81), and also was prof, of composition and orchestration at the Geneva Cons. (1973-86). 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.

Works

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); Leónidas ou la cruauté mentale, opéra bouffe (Paris, Sept. 12,1958); Alerte, puits 21, ballet (1963); Christina et les Chimères, ballet (1964). ORCH.: Mouvement for Strings (1937); 3 piano concertos (1937, 1948, 1971); 9 syms. (1938; 1951; 1955; 1962; 1969; 1975-77; 1983; 1985-86; 1988-89); Antoine et Cléopâtre, symphonie suite (1943); 3 violin concertos (1944, 1954, 1987); La Mandrellina, overture (1952); Divertimento (1953); L’Enfant et la rose, symphonie variations (1957); Clamavi, triptych (1957); Clarinet Concerto (1960); Oboe Concerto (1963); Concerto valcrosiano (1966); Concertino-croisiere for Flute, Piano, and Strings (1966); Stèle for Strings (1969); Triptyque romand (1972); Dialogue for Bassoon or Cello and Orch. (1974); Variations sur un Noël imaginaire (1975); Symphonietta concertante for Flute, Harp, and Orch. (1982); Musique à divers temps for Strings (1988-89). 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); Presti-lagoyana 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 (1988-89); Primavera for Guitar (1988-89). KEYBOARD: Piano: Sonata (1949); Trois Études (1967); Trois Silhouettes (1968); Bea, Sandrine et Monsieur Pompon (le chat) (1986); Cavaliere e cavallo (1986); 3 Romances for Piano, 4-Hands (1988-89); Episodes (1988-89); Musique pour jeunes virtuoses (1988-89). Organ: Réflexions (1973); Apôtre Paul (1985). VOCAL: Naïdes for Narrator, Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1941); Hérétique et Relapse for Tenor, Chorus, and Orch. (1962); Un Banquier sans visage for Soloists, Dancers, and Orch. (1964); Le Quatrième Mage, oratorio for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1965); I Cadieni for Voices and Orch. (1980); choruses; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire