Bernard Reichel
Encyclopedia
Bernard Reichel was a 20th century classical composer from the French-speaking part of Switzerland.
Born in Montmirail
(canton of Neuchâtel), he settled in Geneva
in his twenties. He spent most of his life there, writing a great deal of music, mostly sacred, and working as a music educator. He taught harmony at the Geneva Conservatory for twenty years, and various classes at the Dalcroze institute for 53 years. He was also an organist, serving at the Protestant churches of Chêne-Bougeries
and Eaux-Vives, two downtown parishes in Geneva
.
His musical language is militantly tonal
considering the time in which he wrote and taught, and informed by folk music and medieval modes in a way reminiscent, perhaps, of Ralph Vaughan Williams
' work. His work is little-known outside of Switzerland, overshadowed in particular by that of his contemporaries, Frank Martin
and Arthur Honegger
.
He died in 1992, in Lutry
, in the canton of Vaud
.
Born in Montmirail
Montmirail
Montmirail is the name of several communes in France:* Montmirail, in the Marne département* Montmirail, in the Sarthe départementMontmirail may also refer to the Dentelles de Montmirail, mountains in Vaucluse, southern France. The Battle of Montmirail took place in 1814 near Montmirail, Marne....
(canton of Neuchâtel), he settled in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
in his twenties. He spent most of his life there, writing a great deal of music, mostly sacred, and working as a music educator. He taught harmony at the Geneva Conservatory for twenty years, and various classes at the Dalcroze institute for 53 years. He was also an organist, serving at the Protestant churches of Chêne-Bougeries
Chêne-Bougeries
Chêne-Bougeries is a municipality in the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland. It recently crossed the symbolic barrier of 10,000 inhabitants and thus became officially a city.-History:Chêne-Bougeries is first mentioned in 1270 as Quercus...
and Eaux-Vives, two downtown parishes in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
.
His musical language is militantly tonal
Tonality
Tonality is a system of music in which specific hierarchical pitch relationships are based on a key "center", or tonic. The term tonalité originated with Alexandre-Étienne Choron and was borrowed by François-Joseph Fétis in 1840...
considering the time in which he wrote and taught, and informed by folk music and medieval modes in a way reminiscent, perhaps, of Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
' work. His work is little-known outside of Switzerland, overshadowed in particular by that of his contemporaries, Frank Martin
Frank Martin (composer)
Frank Martin was a Swiss composer, who lived a large part of his life in the Netherlands.-Childhood and youth:...
and Arthur Honegger
Arthur Honegger
Arthur Honegger was a Swiss composer, who was born in France and lived a large part of his life in Paris. He was a member of Les six. His most frequently performed work is probably the orchestral work Pacific 231, which is interpreted as imitating the sound of a steam locomotive.-Biography:Born...
.
He died in 1992, in Lutry
Lutry
Lutry is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Vaud, located in the Lavaux-Oron.-History:Lutry is first mentioned in 908 as in Lustraco villam. In 1124 it was mentioned as monasterium Sancti Martini cum villa quae dicitur Lustriacus and in 1147 it was Lustriey.-Prehistory:In 1835 and again in...
, in the canton of Vaud
Vaud
Vaud is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and is located in Romandy, the French-speaking southwestern part of the country. The capital is Lausanne. The name of the Canton in Switzerland's other languages are Vaud in Italian , Waadt in German , and Vad in Romansh.-History:Along the lakes,...
.
External links
- Association Bernard Reichel biography
- Association Bernard Reichel : biography, timeline, list of works, etc.
- Bernard Reichel at Musinfo