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Wettstein, Peter (b. September 15, 1939, Zürich). Swiss composer of mostly orchestral, chamber, choral, and vocal works that have been performed throughout the world; he is also active as a conductor.
Mr. Wettstein studied at the Musikakademie Zürich and the Universität Zürich and then at the Hochschule für Musik in Detmold from 1961–65, where he studied composition, conducting, music theory, and violin. He also attended courses in Darmstadt, Hilversum, New York, and Paris.
He has received several prizes at various competitions and from different institutions for his work as both a composer and conductor.
As a conductor, he has led numerous world premières.
He taught conducting and music theory at the Musikakademie Zürich from 1965–76 and served as director of the career division of the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Zürich from 1976–78. He taught at the Universität Zürich from 1978–2001 and served as director of the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Zürich from 1999–2003.
He is the father of the composer Martin Wettstein.
Jecklin Edition publishes his music.
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail address: pw27@bluewin.ch
Street address: Mr. Peter Wettstein, Schützenstr. 45, 8702 Zollikon, Switzerland
Telephone: + 411 390 3611
E-mail address for consulting scores: musikalien@jecklin.ch
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
STAGE: Concerto grosso, female dancer, violin, ensemble (flute [+ alto flute], clarinet, cello, piano, percussion), 1989; Viriditas (play, text compiled by the composer), 9 mixed voices, dance troupe, small orchestra (14 players), 1990; Seifenblasen (theatre piece; all players speak text by Silvia Gillardon), piano (+ wooden percussion) (3 players), 1993
ORCHESTRAL: Notturno, string orchestra, 1969–71; Zwei Szenen, large orchestra, 1973–74; Konzert, 18 or more strings, 1974–75; Alkezir, 1981; Suono del ceresio, large orchestra, 1984; Aphoriphone, clown ad libitum, 12 strings, 1982–86; Musica concertante, oboe, violin, harpsichord, string orchestra, 1986; Concerto Violinissimo, violin, orchestra, 1991–92; Rhapsodie, symphonic band, 1992; Kaleidos, 2 percussion, 16 strings, 1993; Ritornelli, small orchestra, 1995 (section of work Kreuzende Wege, a collaboration with Werner Bärtschi, Ulrich Gasser, Max E. Keller, Martin Sigrist; may be performed separately); Begegnung, cello, large orchestra, 1997; Blaue Stunde, 21 strings, 1997–98; Hesli-Musik, 5 clarinets, string orchestra, 1999 (section of Von Kissen und Küssen in Chüesenacht; may be performed separately); Pierre de Lune, alto saxophone, 21 strings, 2000; Image mystérieuse, large orchestra, 2002–03; (T)raummusik, recorder, oboe, trumpet, violin, string orchestra, 2004
CHAMBER MUSIC: Kammermusik, flute, clarinet, string quartet, 1964; Kammermusik, oboe, viola, harpsichord, 1966–68; Metamorphosen, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 1969; Gravitation, clarinet, bassoon, harp, violin, cello, 1969–70; Abraxas, flute, cello, piano, 1970–71; Sieben Miniaturen, transverse flute, harpsichord, 1974; Tönungen, flute, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, string quartet, double bass, 1976; Anrufungen, clarinet, organ, 1976–77; Esquisses, violin, 1976–77; Legende, flute, clarinet, piano, 1977; Musica riservata, 2 violins, 2 violas, 2 celli, 1979; Skizzen, guitar, 1981 (also longer version as Skizzen für Flöte und Duettino für Flöte und Gitarre, flute, guitar, 1988); Fadensonnen, violin, viola, cello, 1985; Air dans l'aube, flute, 1987; Janus, string quartet, 1987; Starowy, clarinet, alto saxophone, piano, 1987; Canto trasognato, cello, piano, 1988; Arkadische Spielereien, panpipes, any keyboard instrument, 1989; Sieben Märchenbilder, flute, guitar, viola, 1989; Capriccio (Ré-fa + Es-C-H), flute (+ piccolo), double bass, 1990; Puzzle-Duo, 2 violins, 1990; Une Liaison, clarinet, piano, 1992; Fünf plus drei, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, string quartet, double bass, 1994–95; Nachtstück, clarinet, piano, 1996; (T)raummusik, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, French horn, trumpet, trombone, 1996; Das Narrenspiel, violin, piano, 1997; Eine E-Musik, flute (+ alto flute), harpsichord, 1998; Rotondo, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, viola, double bass, piano, accordion, percussion, 1998–99 (collaboration with Werner Bärtschi, Ulrich Gasser, Max E. Keller, Martin Sigrist); Alla Polacca, violin, 1999 (section of Von Kissen und Küssen in Chüesenacht; may be performed separately); Inannas Abstieg in die Unterwelt, flute, violin, 2 violas, cello, 2000; Sechs Miniaturen, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 2001–02
CHORAL: Gitanjali (cantata, text by Rabindranath Tagore [translated by G.M. Muncker, A. Haas]), mixed chorus, organ, 1971–72; Bellica pax, mixed chorus, 1978; Acht nostalgische Madrigaletti (text by Mascha Kaléko), mixed chorus, 1986; Elegie (cantata, text by Wolfdietrich Schnurre), 16–24 mixed voices, 2 flutes (1st + piccolo, 2nd + alto flute), oboe, English horn, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, percussion, 1988; Un giro immortale (Totentanz 1995) (texts by Dante Alighieri, Giuseppe Ungaretti), baritone, female speaker, male speaker, pantomime ad libitum, mixed chorus, violin, ensemble (clarinet [+ E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet], 2 violins, viola, 2 celli, piano 4 hands, 2 percussion), 1994; Von Kissen und Küssen in Chüesenacht, 4 soloists, 4 choruses, 5 clarinets, 2 ensembles, string orchestra, 1999 (two sections may be performed separately: Alla Polacca; Hesli-Musik)
VOCAL: Gelöstes Haar (cantata, text by Manfred Hausmann), alto, string quartet, 1967; Sequenz zu 'Missa in festo Pentecostes', soprano, clarinet, viola, organ, 1985 (section of work Propriumsteile der Pfingstmesse, a collaboration with Gerald Bennett, Josef Haselbach, Heinz Holliger, Hans Ulrich Lehmann, Jacques Wildberger; may be performed separately); Sehnsucht (text by Katharina Sallenbach), bass-baritone, piano, 1986; Die Göttin (text by Robert Walser), male voice, piano, 2001
PIANO: Quatre moments musicaux, 1971; Pulsationen, 1984; Sieben Bilder aus dem alten Buch, 1986 (collaboration with painter Elisabeth Wettstein-Wille); Quintatön, 1986; Topas, color-light piano, 2002
ORGAN: Fantasie, 1962–63; Vor- und Nachspiel, 1978–79; Toccata (Mi-H – F-Ré), 1984–85
DISCOGRAPHY
Concerto Violinissimo. Katharina Schamböck, violin; Vytautas Virzonis/Lithuanian Symphony Orchestra (Studio A: SACD 010294, 1994)
Rotondo. Christian Hommel/Ensemble Aventure (Schweizer Tonkünstlerverein: STV/ASM 016, 2002)
Sehnsucht. (Jecklin Edition: JS 270/71)
Janus. (Jecklin Edition: JS 283)
Sequenz zu 'Missa in festo Pentecostes'. (Jecklin Edition: JD 617)
(Last updated on September 16, 2004)
