Hermann Haller was born in Burgdorf in Switzerland. Following completion of his Matura in Burgdorf, he studied music at the conservatory in Zurich under the tutelage of Volkmar Andreae, Paul Müller-Zürich and Rudolf Wittelsbach. In 1938/39 he studied composition under Nadia Boulanger in Paris and piano with Czeslaw Marek back in Zurich. He attended the lectures of Paul Hindemith at the University of Zurich from 1951 until 1954.
Following a three-year teaching position at the University of Zurich (piano and theory), Haller was appointed a teaching position at the teacher's seminar in Küsnacht in Zurich where he taught until 1979. Haller was the president of the Swiss Association of Musicians from 1968 until 1973 and was an elected member of the board of directors and president from 1979 until 1987 of SUISA, the Swiss copyright association. He additionally acted as a state expert for diploma examinations at the conservatories in Zurich and Winterthur, was vice president of the Kiefer Hablitzel Foundation and a member of the cantonal commission for the promotion of culture.
Hermann Haller died in Küsnacht/ZH.
Work list
Böhmisches Volkslied (Bohemian folksong) (1934)
Instrumentation: for high voice and piano
Texts: Eduard Mörike
Manuscript
Wie wird die Tage (1936)
Instrumentation: for medium voice and piano
Texts: Hermann Hesse
Manuscript
Verwölkte Nacht (1936)
Instrumentation: for medium voice and piano
Texts: Hermann Hesse
Manuscript
Die Kindlein (1936)
Instrumentation: for baritone and orchestra (1.1.1.0/1.0.0.0/str)
Texts: Hermann Hesse
Manuscript
Es wird dir wunderbar erscheinen (1936)
Instrumentation: for medium voice and piano
Texts: Hermann Hesse
Manuscript
Toccata in C (1937)
Instrumentation: for organ
Duration: 8' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
Limmatquai 28-30 CH-8001 Zürich
Doppelfuge (double fugue) (1937)
Instrumentation: for strings
Manuscript
Ich wünsch us mines Herzens Grund (1937)
Instrumentation: for mixed a-cappella choir
Texts: Heinrich von Louffenberg
Manuscript
Bitte (1937)
Instrumentation: for medium voice and piano
Texts: Hermann Hesse
Manuscript
Adagio (1938)
Instrumentation: for oboe and strings
Manuscript
Konzert (concert) (1938)
Instrumentation: for oboe and string orchestra
Manuscript
Concertino in E (1942/1960)
Instrumentation: for string orchestra
Duration: 15' 00"
Heinrichshofen's Verlag
Liebigstr. 16 D-26389 Wilhelmshaven BRD
Sonatine (sonatina) (1942)
Instrumentation: for violin and piano
Manuscript
Verkündigung (1943)
The word of the Angel
Instrumentation: for soprano and string orchestra
Texts: Rainer Maria Rilke
Duration: 17' 00" Manuscript
Drei Barock-Lieder (three Baroque songs) (1943/1961)
Instrumentation: for mixed a-cappella choir
Duration: 11' 00"
Heinrichshofen's Verlag
Liebigstr. 16 D-26389 Wilhelmshaven BRD
Konzert in D (concert in D) (1944)
Instrumentation: for violin and string orchestra
Duration: 26' 00" Manuscript
Konzertante Musik (concertante music) (1944)
Instrumentation: for 4 violins and small orchestra (1.1.1.0/0.0.0.0/0.3.2.1)
Duration: 14' 00" Manuscript
Sonate (sonata) (1945)
Instrumentation: for flute and piano
Duration: 15' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
Limmatquai 28-30 CH-8001 Zürich
Fantasie (fantasy) (1946)
Instrumentation: for cello and string orchestra
Duration: 17' 00" Manuscript
4 leichte Klavierstücke (4 light piano pieces) (1947)
Manuscript
Concerto da camera (chamber concert) (1949)
Instrumentation: for solo string quartet and string orchestra
Manuscript
Sonate (sonata) (1951)
Instrumentation: for violin and piano
Duration: 16' 00" Manuscript
Exoratio (1955)
Cantata
Instrumentation: for alto (baritone) and string quartet (or string orchestra)
Texts: Christian Morgenstern
Duration: 19' 00" Manuscript
Fantasie in D (1955)
Instrumentation: for organ
Introduction, Choral and Passacaglia.
Duration: 11' 00"
Heinrichshofen's Verlag
Liebigstr. 16 D-26389 Wilhelmshaven BRD
Konzert (concert) (1957)
Instrumentation: for organ and string orchestra
Duration: 22' 00"
Heinrichshofen's Verlag
Liebigstr. 16 D-26389 Wilhelmshaven BRD
Herbst (1957)
Eight songs
Instrumentation: for a [deep} voice and piano
Texts: Christian Morgenstern
Duration: 16' 00" Manuscript
Sieben leichte Stücke (seven light pieces) (1958)
Instrumentation: for violin and piano
Duration: 9' 00"
Heinrichshofen's Verlag
Liebigstr. 16 D-26389 Wilhelmshaven BRD
Konzert (concert) (1959)
Instrumentation: for piano and orchestra (2.2.2.2/2.2.2.0/timp.perc/str)
Duration: 20' 00"
Heinrichshofen's Verlag
Liebigstr. 16 D-26389 Wilhelmshaven BRD
Elf kleine Klavierstücke (eleven piano pieces (1960)