Pierre Wissmer

Pierre Wissmer studied at École Normale de Musique de Paris Alfred Cortot. Training under Robert Casadesus, Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur and Charles Munch is recorded. The recorded working language is French. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are opera and symphony. Employment is recorded with Schola Cantorum de Paris. Positions recorded include rector.

• Name — Pierre Wissmer • Born — 30 October 1915 • Birthplace — Geneva • Died — 4 November 1992 • Place of death — Valcros (Var) • Occupation — Composer • Spouse — Laure-Anne Étienne

Formed at the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève, he received the advice of Robert Casadesus before perfecting his mastery of counterpoint at the Schola Cantorum de Paris with Daniel-Lesur. He also followed the course of conducting of Charles Münch at the École normale de musique de Paris. His first piano concerto was created on the radio by Jacqueline Blancard 10 October 1937 under the direction of Henri Tomasi. In 1938, his first symphony was directed in Winterthur by Hermann Scherchen. In 1939, Pierre Wissmer composed Le beau dimanche, one-act ballet on an argument by Pierre Guérin who put him in touch with Stravinski, Poulenc, Sauguet, and Cocteau. In 1944, he was appointed professor of composition at Conservatoire de Genève and head of the Department of chamber music at Radio Geneva. In 1948, he married the pianist Laure-Anne Étienne, a student of Marguerite Long at Conservatoire de Paris. From 1952 to 1957, he was deputy director of programs at Radio Luxembourg and, from 1957, director of the Schola Cantorum. In 1958 he adopted French citizenship and later was appointed director of the École normale de musique of Le Mans (1969–1981). In 1967, he was awarded the Grand Prix musical of the city of Paris. In 1992, he died in Valcros, at age 77 shortly after his wife.

• 1945: Marion ou la Belle au Tricorne, radio opera (Geneva, Radio Suisse Romande, 16 April 1947) • 1952: Capitaine Bruno, opéra comique (Geneva, 9 November) • 1958: Léonidas ou la Cruauté mentale, opéra bouffe (Paris, 12 September) • 1939: Le Beau Dimanche, ballet (Geneva, 20 March 1944) • 1963: Alerte, puits, ballet (Geneva, 1964) • 1967: Christina et les chimères, ballet (French Television, 7 December 1972)

• 9 Symphonies (1938, 1951, 1955, 1962, 1969, 1977, 1983/84, 1986, 1988/89) • 3 piano concertos (1937, 1948, 1971) • 3 violin concertos (1942, 1954, 1987) • 1937: Mouvement, for string orchestra (Geneva, 25 February 1938) • 1938: Divertissement sur un choral for 11 instruments (Geneva, 8 December 1939) • 1943: Antoine et Cléopâtre, suite symphonique (Geneva, 2 October 1946) • 1952: Mandrellina, overture (Geneva, 16 April 1952) • 1957: Concerto for guitar • 1960: Concerto for clarinet • 1961: Concerto for trumpet • 1963: Concerto for oboe • 1966: Concerto valcrosiano • 1966: Concertino-Croisière for flute, string orchestra and piano • 1972: Triptyque romand • 1974: Dialogue for bassoon (or cello) and orchestra • 1982: Symphonietta concertante, for flute, harp and orchestra

• 3 String quartets (1937, 1949, 1972) • 1938: Sérénade for oboe, clarinet and bassoon • 1941: Sonatine for clarinet and piano • 1946: Sonatine for violon and piano • 1949: Sonate for piano • 1956: Quartet for saxophones • 1961: Quadrige for flute, violin, cello and piano • 1962: Sonate for flute and guitar • 1964: Quintette à vent • 1973: “Réflexions” for organ • 1975: Variations sur un Noël imaginaire for organ (also for orchestra, 1975) • 1978: Trio adelfiano, for flute, cello and piano

• 1942: Naïades pour récitant, soloists, choir and orchestra (Geneva, 21 January) • 1962: Hérétique et relapse, one-act mystery • 1965: Le Quatrième Mage, oratorio (Paris, 14 October 1969) • 1971: Cantique en l'ounour dou grand saintlouis, rei de franco et patroun de vaucros de cuers, pour choir with piano or organ • 1951: Chants de Mars: 7 chœurs a cappella pour 3 voix d'enfants sur des poésies de René de Obaldia.(Paris 1951)