
Bernard Reichel (August 3, 1901 – December 10, 1992) was a 20th-century classical composer from
the French-speaking part of Switzerland.
Born in
Montmirail (
canton of Neuchâtel
The Republic and Canton of Neuchâtel (french: République et Canton de Neuchâtel); rm, Chantun Neuchâtel; it, Cantone di Neuchâtel is a French-speaking canton in western Switzerland. In 2007, its population was 169,782, of whom 39,654 (o ...
), 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 th
Dalcroze institutefor 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 of
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams, (; 12 October 1872– 26 August 1958) was an English composer. His works include operas, ballets, chamber music, secular and religious vocal pieces and orchestral compositions including nine symphonies, written over ...
. His work is little-known outside of Switzerland, overshadowed by that of his contemporaries,
Frank Martin and
Arthur Honegger.
He died in 1992, in
Lutry
Lutry () is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Vaud, located in the Lavaux-Oron, which includes the Lavaux region, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
History
Lutry is first mentioned in 908 as ''in Lustraco villam''. In 1124 it was mentioned as ...
, in the canton of
Vaud.
External links
Association Bernard Reichel biographyAssociation Bernard Reichel: biography, timeline, list of works, etc.
Bernard Reichel at Musinfo*
1901 births
1992 deaths
20th-century classical composers
Swiss classical composers
Classical composers of church music
Musicians from Geneva
Swiss organists
Male organists
People from the canton of Neuchâtel
Swiss male classical composers
20th-century organists
20th-century male musicians
20th-century Swiss composers
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