Münch, Hans

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Münch, Hans

Münch, Hans, Alsatian-born Swiss conductor and composer, nephew of Ernst Münch; b. Mulhouse, March 9, 1893; d. Basel, Sept. 7, 1983. His father, Eugen Münch, was a conductor. After studying with Albert Schweitzer, he settled in Basel (1912) and became a naturalized Swiss citizen where he took courses with Hans Huber (composition), Adolf Hamm (organ), and Emil Braun (cello) at the Cons, and also played cello in the city orch. (1914–16). He then taught piano at the Cons. (1918–32) and conducted the Bach Choir (1921–26). He subsequently led the Gesangverein and the Liedertafel, was conductor of the Allgemeine Musikgesellschaft (1935–66), and served as director of the Music School and Cons. (1935–47). He composed a Sym. (1951), Symphonische Improvisationen (1971), and several cantatas.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis Mclntire