Hermann Haller (composer)


Hermann Haller was a Swiss composer.

Life

Hermann Haller was born in Burgdorf, Switzerland. His uncle was the sculptor Hermann Haller. After his matura in 1933 he studied at the conservatory of Zurich: Volkmar Andreae, Paul Müller-Zürich and Rudolf Wittelsbach were his teachers. In 1938–39 he studied composition in Paris with Nadia Boulanger.
After World War II Haller started to teach piano at the "Lehrerseminar" Küsnacht until 1979.
He wrote many works, including three string quartets, two piano concertos, one symphony for large orchestra and a song cycle for baritone and orchestra, Ed è subito sera, on poems of Salvatore Quasimodo.

Works (selection)

Chamber music

Sonate for flute and piano String quartet 6 Inventionen for flute and harpsichord «In memoriam» 5 pieces for piano trio Sonata for piano String quartet #2 3 Nocturnes for viola and piano Oktett for oboe, clarinet, bassoon, string quartet and piano 5 pièces en forme de variations for wind quintet «Blaue Wand», Impressionen nach einem Bild von Hans Fischli for flute, string sextet and piano
  • ''String quartet #3''

Orchestral works

Concerto per archi Sinfonie Ballade for horn and string orchestra «Per la Camerata» for 16 strings Variations for orchestra «Fünf Aspekte» for orchestra

Solo concertos

Konzert for organ and string orchestra Orgel Konzert #1 for piano and orchestra Doppelkonzert for flute, clarinet and string orchestra Konzert #2 for piano and string orchestra Extension – Contraction, musique élégiaque pour violoncelle et orchestre «Episoden» for viola and orchestra

Vocal works

«Exoratio» for alto and string quartet 5 Lieder on poems by Hölderlin for alto solo and orchestra «Hiob», oratorio for soprano and baritone solo, mixed choir, organ and orchestra Psalm 103 for soprano solo, mixed choir and organ «Ed è subito sera», cinque liriche su versi di Salvatore Quasimodo per baritono e orchestra Abschied for soprano solo and string orchestra Blätterfall… for baritone solo and string sextet, on a poem by Adrien Turel