Bernard Reichel

Bernard Reichel , born the August 3rd 1901, dead the December 10th 1992, is a Swiss type-setter.

Biography

Originating in Silesia and Provence, the family of Bernard Reichel sets in French-speaking Switzerland at the end of the XIXe century. It is with Neuchâtel that Bernard Reichel comes in the world in 1901. In a family circle where the music holds an important place, it includes/understands early, under the influence of good Masters, his vocation of Compositeur and Musicien. Charles Faller with the Locle, Paul Benner in Neuchâtel, Hermann Suter and Adolphe Hamm with the Academy of Basle, guide his first studies of Piano, Orgue and composition. It becomes then, with Geneva, the pupil then the disciple of Emile Jaques-Dalcroze, while receiving the councils of William Montillet for the organ. One year spent to Paris enables him to work the composition with Ernst Levy and to know best the large type-setters of the time (Debussy, Ravel, Honegger, Roussel and others still).

Since 1925, Bernard Reichel fixes itself at Geneva. He is engaged as professor with the Institut Jaques-Dalcroze where he binds friendship with Frank Martin, sign the Harmonie with the Conservatoire of Geneva and occupies several successive stations of Organiste. In 1971, it receives the price of the music of the Town of Geneva. The composition remains in the foreground of its concerns. Having tried out the system dodecaphonic (see Dodécaphonisme), he however prefers to forge a clean language, released of all Doctrine, where one perceives the influence of the popular song, the Choral and the medieval modes, which does not exclude a great freedom and constant widening from the Tonalité.

Its compositions are very varied and are addressed to quantities of formations. Many famous soloists and of groups of Chamber music profited from its rich person production: together of wind instruments or cord, duet, trio, quartet, quintet, octuors, part for piano, Harpsichord, organ. In particular let us quote its concertos for piano, Flûte, viola, Violoncelle or organ.

In addition, Bernard Reichel contributed to enrich the repertory by the music of church, either in Switzerland, or in Germany, particularly with Lemgo (Westphalia), where its works choral societies (Psaumes, Te Deum, Gloria) were interpreted within the framework of great religious holidays. Lastly, its works for orchestra were sharp successes in the United States, in England, in Germany and in the main cities of Switzerland.

Bernard Reichel also composed for the theater: the Source of life , the Column of fire , the Tale of summer , the Prodigal son , Jeanne d' Arc , Saint-François d' Assise , Died of Rolans and music of large commemorative and historical spectacles.

It spent its last years to Lutry, small city close to Lausanne. All its work can be consulted at the College library of Lausanne. It is deceased on December 12th 1992

Him several albums of drawn stories are also owed (in the spirit of the books of Rodolphe Toepffer), where it knew with humor and tenderness speech of the adventures of the life of the musicians.

To conclude, it is interesting to know that Bernard Reichel liked to quote the word of Frederic Mistral: Such which will leave me free in my thought, free in my speech, free in my way, free me to open out in accordance with my nature, that one are my friend, and I am his compatriot. But that which will obstruct me in my manner of being, that which will make fun of my tears or my laughter, that which will force me to change my language, that it goes to the Devil!

Association Bernard Reichel

Created in 1988, the purpose of this association is to promote, publish and diffuse the work of Bernard Reichel.

References

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