Martin Derungs was born in Chur. He obtained his first musical instruction from his father and the 'Churer cantor' Lucius Juon. He was already attempting composition as a child. He studied at Zurich Conservatory and the 'Musikakademie Zürich' (Zurich Academy of Music), with organ under Luigi Favini, piano under Hans Andreae and composition under Paul Müller. In 1967 he acquired his diploma as soloist for organ under Eduard Müller at the 'Musikadademie Basel' (Basel Academy of Music). Further studies in composition followed, from the years 1967 until 1971 under Günter Bialas in Munich. Martin Derungs worked as the editor of a short wave radio sender 'Deutsche Welle' in Cologne from 1971 until 1974. From 1980 until 1984 he had a lectureship for harpsichord, thorough bass and chamber music at the University of Music in Karlsruhe, since which he has lived as a freelance composer and harpsichordist in Zurich, Tuscanny and from 1991 until 1993 in Berlin.
Martin Derungs organised the programme for the 'Musikkollegiums Zürcher Oberland' from 1978 until 1987 and was president of the music cooperative of Switzerland from 1979 until 1984. From 1980 until 1989 he was a member of the committee of the 'Künstlerhauses' in Boswil. In 1987 he was adjudicated a sabbatical year by the city of Zurich. 1993 until 1996 he presided over the Swiss Society of Musicians. He has been a member of the music commission of the city of Zurich since 1994.
Influenced by the avant-garde currents of the late sixties Derungs mainly composed instrumental works with the block flute being, then as now, the most prevalently used instrument. After the mid seventies he produced more and more compositions with a literary connection and since 1986 in the form of stage works. 'Musik über Musik' is the name of Derungs further group of works, produced since the mid nineties, which relate in many ways to historical music.
Work list
4 Gedichte für Tenor und Kammerorchester (1966-1968)
Instrumentation: for renaissance consort (recorders, crumhorns, bombardons, zink, rankett, bass dulcian, percussion) and jazz-combo (tpt.2tbn.sx/perc)
Manuscript
Saul und David (1976)
stage music for 'Sommertheater' Zurich
Duration: 15' 00" Manuscript
Drei Texte (1976-1989)
Instrumentation: for soprano, oboe and organ
Texts: Sappho, Arthur Rimbaud, Dylan Thomas
Text: Sappho, Arthur Rimbaud, Dylan Thomas.
Duration: 12' 00" Manuscript
Wettinger Klosterspiel (1977)
Stage music
Instrumentation: for mixed choir, flute, clarinet, trumpet, percussion, guitar, piano and violin
Texts: Silja Walter
Scenic adaptation: Jost Andreas Müller.
Duration: 35' 00" Manuscript
Giarsun. Lieder nach Gedichten von Leta Semadeni (1977-1998)
Instrumentation: for deep singing voice, melody instrument, guitar and vibraphone (a version for medium singing voice, recorder and harpsichord or for deep singing voice, double-bass and accordion also available)
Texts: Leta Semadeni
1. Giarsun 2. November 3. Lilli da Giarsun 4. Viadi da Not a. Initial version 1977: for deep singing voice, melody instrument, guitar and vibraphone. b. New version 1992: for medium singing voice, recorder and harpsichord c. New version 1998: for deep singing voice, double-bass and accordion.
Duration: 12' 00" Manuscript
Ludwig van (Mauricio Kagel) (1978)
Adaptation
Instrumentation: for pianoforte, ensemble (1.0.1.0/0.1.0.1/perc/gtr/pf/vn.vc;tp
Duration: 14' 00" Manuscript
Etter Heini (1978)
Stage music
Instrumentation: for flute, viola da gamba and double-bass
Duration: 15' 00" Manuscript
3 Kanons (Festschrift Lucius Juon) (1978-1993)
Instrumentation: for three singing voices
Texts: August Wilhelm Schlegel, Chinesisch, Volkslied
1. Nicht der Weg ist das Schwierige (Chinese) 2. Vergangenheit muss unsre Zukunft gründen (A.W. von Schlegel) 3. I bin en arme Gigerbueb (Baselland, Röselichranz)
Duration: 6' 00" Manuscript
Echos de détresse (1978)
Instrumentation: for two pianos (or piano and harpsichord)
Co-composer: Heinz Marti.
Duration: 18' 00" Manuscript
Leuthold (1976-1979)
Instrumentation: for baritone, children's voice, speaking choir, monophonic mixed choir and ensemble (cl/tbn/vn/pf4hnd/perc;2alphn)
Texts: Heinrich Leuthold
Text: Heinrich Leuthold.
Duration: 35' 00" Manuscript
Kleines Stück (1979)
Instrumentation: for viola and piano (or harpsichord)
Duration: 2' 00" Manuscript
Heimat , op. 22 (1978-1982)
Three songs
Instrumentation: for medium singing voice, piano and speaking choir ad libitum
Texts: Heinrich von Laufenberg, Heinrich Leuthold, Lisel Bruggmann
1. Ich wollt, dass ich daheime wär (Heinrich von Laufenberg)2. Heimweh (Heinrich Leuthold)3. Heimat (Lisel Bruggmann)
Mr. Fitzwilliam's Traum von Venus und Adonis (John Blow) (1986)
Opera
Music by Martin Derungs and John Blow. Based on the collection of songs ‘Amphion Anglicus’ and the masked play ‘Venus and Adonis’ by John Blow.
Score: Soloists; Flute, trumpet, piano and organ.
Duration: abendfüllend Manuscript
Kaleidoscope (1987)
Instrumentation: for violin
Duration: 7' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
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Der Baseballengel (1984-1986)
Opera in one act
Texts: Charles Bukowski (Jost Andreas Müller, Martin Derungs)
Score: Deep bass, tenor, Countertenor (or altus), baritone, soprano, tenor, male and female choir, saxophone quintet, harpsichord/piano/harmonium (with a minimum of two players), double-bass and two percussionists.
Manuscript
Das Neapelfries (1987)
Film music
Instrumentation: for flute and piano
A film portrait of the Bern Artist Markus Raetz and his work 'Neapelfries' by Gaudenz Meili.
Duration: 35' 00" Manuscript
Trio per archi (1987)
Duration: 16' 00"
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Passion, op. 35 (1987-1991)
Instrumentation: for flute quartet (including three with afl and all four with bfl)
A version for recorder quartet is also available.
Duration: 15' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
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Contrasti sospesi (1988)
Instrumentation: for wind quintet
Duration: 12' 00"
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"zu wissen..." (1988)
Instrumentation: for harpsichord (speaking voice ad lib.)
Duration: 4' 00" Manuscript
Bündner Wirren, op. 37 (1987-1989)
Scenes about Jürg Jenatsch
Texts: Markus Schmid
Text: Markus Schmid.
Duration: abendfüllend Manuscript
Der Diamant (1990)
Instrumentation: for two male choirs and a deep gong
Text: Martin Markun nach dem Roman "Anna Göldi" von Kaspar Freuler.
Duration: abendfüllend
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"O alter Duft..." (1989)
Instrumentation: for flute, clarinet, piano, viola, violoncello and tam-tam
Duration: 12' 00" Manuscript
Donozella (1989)
Instrumentation: for two recorders
Duration: 2' 00" Manuscript
"un avion aveugle..." (1990)
Lied
Instrumentation: for soprano and piano
Texts: Georges Schéhadé
Text: Georges Schéhadé.
Duration: 1' 00" Manuscript
Anna Jenatsch. Oratorische Szenen (1990-1991)
Instrumentation: for speaker, singers (MezT2S2AB), choirs (choir, female choir, male choir and children's choir) and instruments (1-3asx.tsx/hn.2tpt.tbn.tba/2perc/2pf.org/db)
Texts: Markus Schmid-Lengersdorf
Text: Markus Schmid-Lengersdorf.
Duration: abendfüllend Manuscript
Konzert für Violine und Orchester (1990-1992)
Instrumentation: for violin and orchestra (3.3.3.3/4.3.btpt.3.1/4perc/hp.cel.hca.org/12.10.8.8.6)
Duration: 22' 00"
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Scene teatrali (1991-1992)
Instrumentation: for two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons and two horns
Duration: 17' 00" Manuscript
Colori (1991-1997)
Instrumentation: for recorder
Cycle: Cornice (S) - Cromatico (A) - Rosso-azzurro (A) - Nero (B) - Giallo (S) - Verde (T).
Duration: 35' 00"
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concert for recorder, double-bass, harpsichord and strings op.49 (1993)
Duration: 16' 00"
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Concertino (1993)
Instrumentation: for recorder and chamber orchestra
Duration: 15' 00"
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Threnos, op. 51 (1993)
Instrumentation: for Bass, choir, percussion and organ
Texts: Martin Luther King, Jewgeni Jewtuschenko
1. When Israel was in Egyptland2. My Lord, what a morning
Duration: 12' 00" Manuscript
Algordanzas, op. 52 (1993)
Instrumentation: for seven performers
Text by Arnold Büchli and Friedrich Nietzsche.
Duration: 18' 00" Manuscript
Fanfare contre la fausse paix (1993)
Instrumentation: for string orchetstra (free score)
Duration: 3' 00" Manuscript
La Liberatione di Ruggiero dall'Isola d'Alcina (Francesca Caccini) (1993)
Opera
Texts: Ludovico Ariosto
Additional text from ‘Orlando Furioso’ by Ludovico Ariosto.
Additional music by Martin Derungs.
Score: Four sopranos, alto, tenor, mixed choir, recorder, percussion, harpsichord, two gambas and strings.
Duration: abendfüllend Manuscript
Wahnfried (Collage aus Richard Wagners "Götterdämmerung"), op. 53 (1993)
Instrumentation: for piano
A collage from the 'Götterdämmerung' by Richard Wagner, piano exerpts from Karl Klindworth.
Duration: 18' 00" Manuscript
Etude pointillistique, op. 54 (1994)
Instrumentation: for orchestra (2.2.2.2/2.2.1.0/perc/2hp/str)
Duration: 12' 00"
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I Pagliacci (Ruggiero Leoncavallo) (1994)
Opera
New instrumental version for fifteen instruments: (1.0.1.1.asx.tsx/1.0.0.1/man.hp.acn/perc/1.1.1.1)
Manuscript
Trio für Flöte, Bratsche und Harfe, op. 55 (1994)
Duration: 12' 00" Manuscript
Kassandra, Darstellung eines Mythos, op. 56 (1994-1995)
Instrumentation: for voice and cello
Texts: Christa Wolf (Gian Gianotti)
Text: Gian Gianotti based on the narrative by Christa Wolf.
Duration: abendfüllend Manuscript
Balletsuite "La Strada" (Nino Rota) (1995)
Adaptation
Instrumentation: for eighteen instruments (1.0.1.1.asx.tsx/2.1.1.1/hp/acn/perc//2.1.1.1)
An adaptation of the film music to Federico Fellinis film 'La Strada'.
Duration: 16' 00" Manuscript
Temi estratti da "La strada" (Nino Rota) (1995)
Instrumentation: for violin
Duration: 6' 00" Manuscript
Nachtstück, op. 57 (1995)
Instrumentation: for violin
Duration: 5' 00" Manuscript
Ars orationis, op. 58 (1995)
Instrumentation: for organ
Duration: 10' 00" Manuscript
Elegie, op. 59 (1996)
Instrumentation: for ten-stringed guitar
Duration: 8' 00" Manuscript
Aschenbrödel, op. 60 (1996)
Instrumentation: for soprano, mezzo-soprano, altus, tenor, baritone, five performers, recorder, three flutes, horn, guitar, violin and double-bass
Texts: Robert Walser (Gian Gianotti, Martin Derungs)
Text: Gian Gianotti and Martin Derungs, based on Robert Walser.
Manuscript
Das Schloss (1997)
Stage music for 'in situ', Chur
Texts: Franz Kafka (Wolfram Frank)
Text: Franz Kafka. Adapted for the stage by Wolfram Frank.
Duration: 20' 00" Manuscript
Brackets and lines, op. 61 (1998)
Instrumentation: for baroque violin and positive organ
Duration: 8' 00" Manuscript
Idyll, op. 62 (1998)
Instrumentation: for chamber orchestra (0.0.2.1/0.1.0.0/hp/str)
Duration: 13' 00" Manuscript
Drei Fälle, op. 63 (1999)
Instrumentation: for four female voices, clarinet, percussion, piano and viola
Texts: Daniil Charms
Text: Daniil Charms.
Duration: 4' 30" Manuscript
Fantasie, op. 64 (1999)
Instrumentation: for violin, piano and orchestra (1.2.0.2/2.0.0.0/timp/str)
Based on the incomplete concert movement by W.A Mozart, KV 315 f, appendix 56.
Duration: 17' 00" Manuscript
Three Poems by John Donne, op. 65 (1999)
Instrumentation: for soprano, mezzo-soprano, counter-tenor, tenor, baritone, bass, recorder (bass recorder), violin, viola (viola da gamba) and organ
Texts: John Donne
1. A Lecture upon the Shadow2. Twickham Garden3. Holy Sonnet X
Duration: 16' 00" Manuscript
-ludes (Vor-, Zwischen- und Nachspiele zu G.F. Händels Sonate in h-moll), op. 66 (1999)
Instrumentation: for flute and cembalo
Duration: 8' 00" Manuscript
A Set of Pieces, op. 67 (1999-2000)
Instrumentation: for three recorders
Duration: 11' 00" Manuscript
Cantiga, op. 68 (2000)
Instrumentation: for counter-tenor and violin
Texts: Cecilia Meireles
Text: from "Viagem" (1929-37) by Cecilia Meireles.
Duration: 4' 00" Manuscript
1 Jahr, op. 69 (1999-2000)
Instrumentation: for piano (or any mixed instrumentation)