Geiser, Walther

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Geiser, Walther

Geiser, Walther, Swiss violist, conductor, pedagogue, and composer; b. Zofingen, May 16, 1897; d. Oberwil, near Basel, March 6, 1993. He was a student of Hirt (violin) and Suter (composition) at the Basel Cons. (1917–20), of Eldering (violin) in Cologne, and of Busoni (composition) at the Prussian Academy of Arts in Berlin (1921–23). From 1924 to 1963 he taught at the Basel Cons., and also was active as a violist and conductor, and was conductor of the Basel Bach Choir (1954–72). He generally followed a late Romantic path as a composer.

Works: 2 flute concertos (1921, 1963); Violin Concerto (1930); Horn Concerto (1934); Konzertstiick for Organ and Chamber Orch. (1941); 4 orch. fantasies (1942, 1945, 1949, 1963); 2 syms. (1953, 1967); Concerto da camera for 2 Violins, Harpsi-chord, and String Orch. (1957); Piano Concerto (1959); chamber music; piano pieces; Stabat Mater for Baritone, Chorus, Orch., and Organ (1936); Te Deum for 4 Soloists, Chorus, Orch., and Organ (1960); choral music.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire