Fabian Müller (composer)

Fabian Müller (* 1964 in Zurich ) is a Swiss composer .

Life

Fabian Müller studied cello with Claude Starck and composition with Josef Haselbach at the Zurich Conservatory . After graduation, he attended summer courses at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado for four years . There he studied composition with Jacob Druckman , Bernard Rands and George Tsontakis.

Fabian Müller received significant support from David Zinman , who recorded a portrait CD with the Philharmonia Orchestra London in 2002. Another recording of chamber music for strings was released in 2004 with the Petersen Quartet . Müller's works are played internationally by renowned orchestras and ensembles. He wrote commissioned works for the Lucerne Festival , the Interlakner Musikfestwochen and the Vestfold Festspillene in Norway. His works have been performed at the La Chaise Dieux Festival in France, the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado and the Festival Internacional de Ushuaia in Argentina.

In addition to his work as a composer, Fabian Müller is primarily interested in music ethnology. For ten years (1991 to 2002) he worked on the publication of the Hanny Christen Collection, a ten-volume Swiss folk music anthology with over 10,000 melodies from the 19th and 20th centuries. As an instrumentalist on the cello, he was involved in Töbi Tobler's project Neue Original Appenzeller Streichmusik (2002).

Works

Müller's current works include the Cello Sonata No. 2 and Dialogues Cellestes , a double concerto for two cellos and orchestra. Both works were commissioned by the cellist Antonio Meneses and were premiered by him. The works of recent years also include four string quartets, as well as the Concerto per Klee for solo cello and chamber orchestra (world premiere in 2007 by Steven Isserlis ) and the concert for orchestra (world premiere: Austro-Hungarian Haydn Philharmonic, conductor: Christopher Hogwood ). The symphonic work Tarani was presented in 2009 by the Bern Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Andrey Boreyko on a tour of Germany.

Prizes & awards

• 1996: Jacob Druckman Award for Orchestral Composition (Composition Award of the Aspen Music Festival )
• 2006: Award from the Canton of Zurich
• 2012: Zollikon Art Prize
• 2016: Nomination for the Swiss Music Prize

Catalog raisonné

Orchestral works

• «Evening morning» intermezzo for orchestra (2010) WP : January 12, 2011; Bern, Culture Casino; New Zurich Orchestra; Martin Studer-Müller
• Concert for orchestra (2007/2008) WP: April 26, 2009; Bern, Culture Casino; Austro-Hungarian Haydn Philharmonic , conductor: Christopher Hogwood ; Commissioned Anniversary of the Clubhouse Concerts 2009
• Taranis (2006) for large symphony orchestra, in one movement Premiere: November 19, 2008; La Chaux-de-Fonds, Salle de Musique; Bern Symphony Orchestra , conductor: Dmitri Liss
• Eiger (2004) WP: August 27, 2004; Interlaken Music Festival Weeks; Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, conductor: Andris Nelsons
• Balada y Bulerias (2003) WP: May 2, 2005; St. Petersburg Philharmonic; Academic Symphony Orchestra St. Petersburg, conductor: Marc Andreae
• Gayatri Rhapsody (1997) Premiere: December 3, 2004; Tonhalle Zurich; Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich , conductor: Peter Oundjian
• Intrada (1997) WP May 1, 2006; Festival Ushuaia, Argentina; Dvorak Symphony Orchestra (Prague), conductor: Claude Villaret

Solo concerts

• Concert for vibraphone and orchestra (2014) Premiere: October 7, 2014; Tonhalle Zurich; Evelyn Glennie , Weinberger Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Gábor Takács-Nagy
• Clatterclank for snare drum and string orchestra (2014) (homage to Jean Tinguely ); WP: October 7, 2014; Tonhalle Zurich; Evelyn Glennie, Weinberger Chamber Orchestra under the direction of: Gábor Takács-Nagy
• «Sirimadi» concert piece for violoncello and orchestra (2011) Premiere : June 1, 2012; Bangkok, Music Auditorium (MACM Hall); Pi-Chin Chien, violoncello, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor: Claude Villaret; (Program music inspired by the Thai-Buddhist story about Queen Sirimadi. Commission for the anniversary "80 years of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Thailand").
• «Dialogues Cellestes», concert for 2 cellos and orchestra (2009) premiered: February 18, 2011; Bangkok, Music Auditorium (MACM Hall); Soloists: Antonio Meneses & Pi-Chin Chien, violoncello, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor: Claude Villaret
• «Concerto per Klee» for violoncello and chamber orchestra (2007) premiered: 23 August 2007; Paul Klee Museum, Bern; Steven Isserlis , cello, Weinberger Chamber Orchestra, conductor: Gábor Takács-Nagy
• «Lied des Einsamen» for saxophone and string orchestra (2005); Homage for Dag Hammarskjöld WP: March 30, 2007; International Saxophone Festival, Szczecin Theater, Poland; Harry White, alto saxophone, Szczecin Philharmonic Orchestra
• Concerto for piano and string orchestra (2005) Premiere: July 23, 2008; Domleschger Summer Concerts; Soloist: Adrian Oetiker, Bündner Kammerphilharmonie, conductor: Marcus Bosch
• Suite for violoncello and string orchestra (2004) Premiere: May 17, 2004; National Concert Hall, Taipei, Taiwan; Pi-Chin Chien, violoncello, Academy of Taiwan String
• Concerto for violoncello and orchestra (1999) CD recording in 2002; Pi-Chin Chien, violoncello, Philharmonia Orchestra , London, conductor: David Zinman
• Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (1993) Premiere: March 14, 1997; Philharmonic Orchestra Poznan (Poland), soloist: Tomasz Tomaszewski, conductor: Marc Andreae.

Orchestral songs

• «At the beginning» - Three attempts to invent the world, for soprano, string orchestra and harpsichord (2010); Setting of texts by Tim Krohn UA: Lutherse Kerk, Holland; Baroque ensemble “De Swaen”, Amsterdam
• "Night Songs" for mezzo-soprano and orchestra (1999); based on poems by Hermann Hesse WP: January 12, 2001; Tonhalle Zurich; Malena Ernman , mezzo-soprano, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, conductor: David Zinman

String orchestra

• «A Bernese Name ...» Humorous encore for string orchestra (2012) Premiere: September 1st, 2012; City Theater Bern; Camerata Bern
• Weinberger Divertimento (2008) WP: August 23, 2008; Rainhalle, Rieden, St.Gallen; Weinberger Chamber Orchestra, conductor: Gábor Takács-Nagy
• Vokalize (2006) WP: February 8, 2007 St. Peter, Zurich; Helvetica Chamber Orchestra, conductor: Alexandre Clerc
• Labyrinth (2005) WP: October 2005; USA tour; Zurich Chamber Orchestra , conductor: Howard Griffiths
• Rhapsody for string orchestra (1990) Premiere: July 26, 1991; Bielersee Festival; North Bohemian Philharmonic, conductor: Jost Meier

Chamber music (selection)

• Dialogue - musical reflection on the cantata « Dearest Jesus, my desire » BWV 20 by JS Bach. WP: January 20, 2017; Reformed Church Trogen AR; Pi-Chin Chien (violoncello), Bernhard Röthlisberger (clarinet)
• Sonata for violoncello and piano No. 3 (2013) Premiere: July 13, 2013; Taiwan, Kaoshiung; Pi-Chin Chien, violoncello, Berhard Parz, piano
• Sonata for viola and piano (2012) Premiere: May 31, 2012; USA, Rochester NY, 40th International Viola Congress, Eastman School of Music; Viacheslav Dinerchtein, viola
• The mysterious Mr. Harley Quin, for violin, viola and piano (2011) Premiere: June 25, 2011; Festival «Cully Classique»; Martyn Jackson, violin, Andrii Malakhov, viola and Joaquim Carr, piano
• String Quartet No. 3, “About Time” (2011) Premiere: May 27, 2011; Basel, City Casino, Hans Huber Hall; Nathan Quartet
• String Quartet No. 4, “1 for 4, 4 for 1” (2011) Premiere: October 19, 2014; Bern; Carmina Quartet
• Sonata for violoncello and piano No. 2 (2011) Premiere: February 25, 2013; Cremona; Antonio Meneses, violoncello, Olga Zadorozhniuk, piano
• "Munchs Traum (a)" for violin solo (2010) premier: June 5, 2010; Vestfold International Festival 2010, Norway; Henning Kraggerud , violin
• String Quartet No. 2, “Das Helvetische” (2010) premiered: January 26th, 2011; Winterthur town house; Carmina Quartet
• Duo for violoncello and guitar (2009) Premiere: October 27, 2009; Zurich; Mattia Zappa , violoncello, Admir Doçi, guitar
• Harlequin Fantasy for clarinet and string quartet (2003) Premiere: April 25, 2004; Lenzburg Castle; Lux Brahn, clarinet, Sarastro quartet
• Duo for violin and violoncello (2002) Premiere: May 9, 2004; Zurich Congress Center; Tomasz Tomaszewski, violin, Pi-Chin Chien, violoncello
• String Quartet No. 1 (2001) Premiere: April 25, 2004; Lenzburg Castle; Sarastro Quartet
• Saxophone Quartet (2000) Premiere: August 29, 2001; Raschèr Saxophone Quartet
• String trio (1997) WP: Tonhalle Zürich; Zurich string trio

Transcriptions (selection)

• 20 song transcriptions for clarinet and string orchestra by Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms and Grieg. WP: October 15, 2013; Radio Studio Zurich; Fabio Di Càsola , clarinet; Zurich Chamber Orchestra, conductor: Willi Zimmermann
• Johan S. Svendsen : Romance, Op. 26 for string quintet (2013). WP: May 22, 2013; Lenzburg Castle, Lenzburgiade Festival, Engegård Quartet (Norway)
• Paul Juon : Suite op.89, for violin, violoncello and string orchestra (2013) (original piano trio). WP: November 27, 2013; National Concert Hall, Taipei; Tan Chen, violin, Pi-Chin Chien, violoncello, Academy of Taiwan Strings
• Schubert: 7 songs, arranged for soprano and string orchestra (2009). WP: September 5th, 2009; Sandra Trattnigg, soprano, Weinberger Chamber Orchestra, conductor: Gábor Takács-Nagy
• Mendelssohn : Midsummer Night's Dream, Scherzo for string orchestra (2007).
• Niccolò Paganini : Moto perpetuo Op. 11 for string orchestra (2006).
• Max Bruch : Swedish Dances for violin and string orchestra (1992) (original violin & piano).

Discography

• 2014: "Taiwan Rhapsody" and "Six Taiwanese Songs", romantic musical settings for cello and orchestra; Pi-Chin Chien, violoncello, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Wen-Pin Chien Sony Classical
• 2013: Portrait CD: Eiger (2004), Concerto for Orchestra (2007/08), “Dialogues Cellestes”, Antonio Meneses & Pi-Chin Chien, violoncello, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Claude Villaret ARS production
• 2013: "Munchs Traum (a) for violin solo (2010), Henning Kraggerud, violin, SIMAX Classics
• 2007: Suite for violoncello and piano, sonata for violoncello and piano, Othmar Schoeck: Six songs for violoncello and piano Op. 6. Pi-Chin Chien violoncello, Adrian Oetiker, piano, Musiques Suisses
• 2006: Portrait CD; Piano concerto, labyrinth, suite for violoncello and string orchestra, "Lied des Einsamen", Pi-Chin Chien, violoncello, Adrian Oetiker, piano, Harry White, saxophone, Zurich Chamber Orchestra, Ruben Gazarian; Musiques Suisses
• 2004: Chamber music for strings; Petersen Quartet; Tomasz Tomaszewski, violin; Pi-Chin Chien, violoncello; Andreas Wylezol, double bass; "20th Century Portraits", Capriccio
• 2003: Five Intermezzi for alto saxophone, Harry White, saxophone; Deutsche Grammophon
• 2002: Portrait CD; “Night Songs”, cello concert 1999, Intrada, Gayatri-Rhapsody; Malena Ernman, mezzo-soprano; Pi-Chin Chien, violoncello; Philharmonia Orchestra, London; David Zinman col legno
• 1995: Violin Concerto (1993), Suite Vaudoise, Rhapsody for string orchestra, "Night Songs"; MDS Classics

Web links

• Website of Fabian Müller
• Interview with Fabian Müller in Glarean magazine
• Fabian Müller at Klassika.info
• Sound recordings with works by the composer from the SRG SSR archive on Neo.Mx3

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Program ( Memento of the original from January 21, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on the website of the JS Bach Foundation , accessed on January 21, 2017.