Gerber, René

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Gerber, René

Gerber, René, Swiss composer and teacher; b. Travers, June 29, 1908. He attended the Univ. of Zurich (1929) and studied with Andreae and Müller at the Zürich Cons. (1931–33) before completing his training in Paris (1934) with Dukas, Boulanger, Siohan, and Dupont. After serving as prof. of music at the Latin Coll. in Neuchatel (1940–47), he was director of the Neuchatel Cons. (1947–51). His works were marked by tonal and modal writing.

Works

DRAMATIC Opera Roméo et Juliette (1957–61); Le Songe d’une nuit d’été (1978–81). ORCH.: 2 concertos for Harp and Chamber Orch. (1931, 1969); Clarinet Concerto (1932); Hommagea Ronsard (1933); 2 piano concertos: No. 1 for Piano and Chamber Orch. (1933) and No. 2 for Piano and Orch. (1966–70); Suite frangaise I (1933), II (1934), and III (1945) for Chamber Orch.; Concerto for Flute and Chamber Orch. (1934); Concerto for Bassoon and Chamber Orch. (1935–39); Les Heures de France (1937); Concerto for Trumpet and Chamber Orch. (1939); Violin Concerto (1941); Trois Passages de Breughel (1942); Le Terroir anime (1944); Trois Danses espagnoles for Chamber Orch. (1944); 2 sinfoniettas for Strings (1949,1968); L’lmagier medieval (1952–74); Lais Corinthiaca (1957); Suite breviniere (1960); Le Moulin de la Galette (1970); Concerto for English Horn and Chamber Orch. (1976); L’Ecole de Fontainebleau (1978–79); Concerto for Trumpet, Strings, and Percussion (1983); The Old Farmer’s Almanac (1986). CHAMBER: Sonata for Solo Harp (1932); 4 string quartets (1933, 1934, 1941, 1947); Concertino for Winds, Piano, and Percussion (1935); Ballet for Flute and Piano (1943); Violin Sonata (1943); Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1944); Flute Sonata (1945); Cello Sonata (1945); Trumpet Sonata (1948); Saxophone Sonata (1948); Suite for Flute, Oboe, and Piano (1948); Sonatine for Cor de chasse and Piano (1965); Trio for 2 Clarinets and Bassoon (1982; also for 3 Clarinets); A Terpsychore for Clarinet Ensemble (1993). VOCAL: 5 Impressions for Voice, Wind Orch., 2 Harps, and Percussion (1942); Le Tombeau de Botticelli for Chorus and 11 Instruments (1967); Trois Visions espagnoles for Voice, 5 Winds, Piano, and 2 Percussion (1973); 3 Poémes de la Renaissance for Contralto or Baritone, Violin, Cello, and Piano (1977); 3 Poémes for Soprano, Violin, Cello, and Piano (1988); other songs; noels, etc.