Professional activity: Composers, Interpreters, Authors
Biography
* 14. 02. 1939.
Geboren in Bern. Komponist und Improvisator, Interpret und Pädagoge. 1959 bis 1966 Studium bei Walter Lang und Prof. Bruno Seidlhofer (Klavier), Prof. Sandor Veress und Karlheinz Stockhausen (Komposition) in Bern, Köln und Wien. 1968 Gründung des Ensemble Neue Horizonte Bern (über 800 Konzerte, Radiosendungen, Manifestationen). 1967 bis 2023 über fünfzig Tonträger, zum Teil mit Komponierten Programmen. 1983 Grosser Musikpreis des Kantons Bern. 1964 bis 1987 sechs weitere Preise als Pianist und Komponist. Lebt seit 1966 in Biel, wo ihm 2006 der Kulturpreis er Stadt zuerkannt wird. 1955 bis 2022 weit über 250 Kompositionen aller Sparten (über 2500 Aufführungen in ganz Europa, in Amerika und Russland). Professor für Theorie und Ensemble an der Musikhochschule Bern bis 2002. In letzter Zeit vermehrtes Auftreten als Performer, oft mit eigenen Textkompositionen. Spezialist für (vor)klassische und für konzeptuelle Musik. 2009 Kompositionspreis des Schweizerischen Tonkünstlervereins. Seit 2002 mit über 150 Werken beim "aart-Verlag", der auch sein Standardwerk "Konzeptuelle Musik" herausgibt. 2022 Gründung der Stiftung Urs Peter Schneider (STUPS) in Biel.
Talentproben, Sechs Tänze und Kontertänze (1960/1979)
Instrumentation: for small instrumental ensemble (afl.bcl/tpt.tbn/pf.org) and string quartet
Extracts from Webern's last twelve-tone series, curiously articulated; radical canon technique. Not particularly difficult technically but awkward and a little unusual. Almost traditional notation. Each extract can be performed separately.
Instrumentation: for any score (each with piano ad libitum)
Versions of considerable duration can be realised using the existing material, versions whose time / space characteristics are completely accidental. Musical grid structures are the unpredictable result. These pieces are dedicated to John Cage, Morton Feldman and Christian Wolff
Instrumentation: for anything which makes a noise.
Thirteen pages each with thirty-five notations of musical and non-musical provenance. To be performed by a maximum of thirteen players who help themselves to a large 'arsenal' of percussion instruments and then let loose their prepared realisations on each other. Only the duration of play and an approximate sequence of events are discussed in advance. This work is dedicated to Erika Radermacher (my first long-time companion).
Instrumentation: for any score (not necessarily musical)
Ninety one diversely cross-linked leaves for a comprehensive media performance. Any number of musicians, actors, actresses and further participants help themselves to any number of leaves and let their musical and non-musical actions, (modelled on anarchistic directness) out into the open. Dedicated to the theatrewright and long-term friend Norbert Klassen.
Kirchweih, Fünf Rückführungen: 1. Kreuze (1964-1967/1972)
Instrumentation: for four instrumentalists (xylophone, flute, piano and harmonium)
Kirchweih: A feature-length multi media cycle about the perverted or lost ritual; 'Kreuze' is critical ecclesiastic music, 'Englisches Zubehoer', 'Zähler' and 'Geistliche Uebungen' are all pieces with optical, film-like, pantomime-like ceremonies, 'Umkehr' is possibly reconciliatory Easter music whose tone is advanced into the utopic using simple electronic apparatus. The five pieces should be (but not necessarily) performed in a church, each can be performed seperately. Can be realised by a well motivated amateur choir.
Duration: 6' 00"
Mannheimer Musik-Verlag GmbH
Baumkirchnerstr. 53a D-81673 München BRD
Kirchweih, Fünf Rückführungen: 2. Englisches Zubehoer (1965-1966/1972)
Instrumentation: for objects of an ecclesiastical nature
Kirchweih: A feature-length multi media cycle about the perverted or lost ritual; 'Kreuze' is critical ecclesiastic music, 'Englisches Zubehoer', 'Zähler' and 'Geistliche Uebungen' are all pieces with optical, film-like, pantomime-like ceremonies, 'Umkehr' is possibly reconciliatory Easter music whose tone is advanced into the utopic using simple electronic apparatus. The five pieces should be (but not necessarily) performed in a church, each can be performed seperately. Can be realised by a well motivated amateur choir.
Duration: 16' 00"
Mannheimer Musik-Verlag GmbH
Baumkirchnerstr. 53a D-81673 München BRD
Kirchweih, Fünf Rückführungen: 3. Zähler (1966-1969/1972)
Instrumentation: for figurine (slide projection)
Kirchweih: A feature-length multi media cycle about the perverted or lost ritual; 'Kreuze' is critical ecclesiastic music, 'Englisches Zubehoer', 'Zähler' and 'Geistliche Uebungen' are all pieces with optical, film-like, pantomime-like ceremonies, 'Umkehr' is possibly reconciliatory Easter music whose tone is advanced into the utopic using simple electronic apparatus. The five pieces should be (but not necessarily) performed in a church, each can be performed seperately. Can be realised by a well motivated amateur choir.
Duration: 2' 00"
Mannheimer Musik-Verlag GmbH
Baumkirchnerstr. 53a D-81673 München BRD
Kirchweih, Fünf Rückführungen: 4. Geistliche Uebungen (1968-1971/1972)
Instrumentation: for people of both sexes
Kirchweih: A feature-length multi media cycle about the perverted or lost ritual; 'Kreuze' is critical ecclesiastic music, 'Englisches Zubehoer', 'Zähler' and 'Geistliche Uebungen' are all pieces with optical, film-like, pantomime-like ceremonies, 'Umkehr' is possibly reconciliatory Easter music whose tone is advanced into the utopic using simple electronic apparatus. The five pieces should be (but not necessarily) performed in a church, each can be performed seperately. Can be realised by a well motivated amateur choir.
Duration: 12' 00"
Mannheimer Musik-Verlag GmbH
Baumkirchnerstr. 53a D-81673 München BRD
Kirchweih, Fünf Rückführungen: 5. Umkehr (1969-1970/1972)
Instrumentation: For an orchestra with apparatus (2.2.2.2/2.2.2.2/2vnpizz.2gtr.2vcpizz.2hp/0.2.2.2.2)
Kirchweih: A feature-length multi media cycle about the perverted or lost ritual; 'Kreuze' is critical ecclesiastic music, 'Englisches Zubehoer', 'Zähler' and 'Geistliche Uebungen' are all pieces with optical, film-like, pantomime-like ceremonies, 'Umkehr' is possibly reconciliatory Easter music whose tone is advanced into the utopic using simple electronic apparatus. The five pieces should be (but not necessarily) performed in a church, each can be performed seperately. Can be realised by a well motivated amateur choir.
- Sphere for one piano- Angle for two harmoniums- Navel for four harpsichords- Bird for three sopranos- Jacket for six clarinets- Handle for five harps
- Zahlen for 4 percussionists, in 3 parts
- Texte for 1 speaker, in 3 x 5 parts
- Bilder for 3 singers, in 5 parts
- Noten for 5 strings, in 5 x 7 parts
- Striche for 2 synthesizer, in 7 parts
Meridian, Sechs Dauern nach Paul Celan (1973-1976/1986)
Instrumentation: for large instrumental ensemble and four voices (SATB; 0.0.0.0/1.0.0.0/6gtr/2pf(eight players)/2timp /0.3.3.3.0)
Sixty minutes for thirty performers in dynamic combination, demanding the maximum of inner concentration. An unusually vigilant and deliberate virtuosity is required for each of the six monochromatic pieces: 'Atemwende', 'Sprachgitter', 'Fadensonnen', 'Schneepart', 'Niemandsrose' and 'Lichtzwang'. Each piece lasts between five and fifteen minutes and can be performed separately without need of the others. A work concerning the unspeakable concealment of fragility; a memorial piece.
Instrumentation: for four different clarinets, piano and three different strings
- Ewiger Schnee for bcl and pf (7'10) - Wolkenloser Himmel for 2 str and pf (6'30) - Dürres Gras for 3 str and pf (4'25) - Ätzendes Brennen for 4 cl and pf (1'05)
After Rudolf Steiner.
Consistently calm, quiet piece inspired by the wisdoms offered up by the course of the year: a playback apparatus (cassette player within the piano) produces pulsations of varying tempi and intensity, to this comes sparse, partly experimentally created tonal sequences whose tempi and intensity communicate as precisely as possible with the pulsations of the cassette player. The four pieces can be performed individually or as a cycle; they are intended for highly concentrated musicians only, but do not require any particular virtuosity. Written in semi-traditional notation. The piano is partly prepared (simply) and the pianist occasionally hits a membranophone.
Instrumentation: for violin, alto flute, violoncello, bass clarinet (or any other quartet instrumentation)
Quiet music that can only be accomplished when all four performers pursue the whole temporal-spatial event consciously yet completely immersed.
Intermediate level of difficulty but requires a high level of concentration; twelve almost identical strophes - simultaneously an object from twelve perspectives. Radical music dedicated to Matthias Bruppacher.
Instrumentation: for 1 to 4 performers (partly free score)
- Immer/Nimmer for four vocalists/four cembalists (8' / 3')
- Rohrertisch/Striegeltisch for four orators/four percussionists (or similar) (5' / 5')
- Ockerln/Nockerln for three partners (free score) (2' / 12')
- Entwickeltes/Verschleiertes for three trombones/two pianists (5' - 6' / 6' - 7')
- Ichts/Nichts for two partners (free score) (10' / 0')
- Lichtlein/Pfloecklein for one viola/one recorder (or similar) (7' / 7')
- Och/Noch for one soprano/one organ (4' / 9')
Duration: var. Manuscript
Geistliche Musik (1977-1978)
Instrumentation: for orchestra / ensemble (free scoring)
- Silberlinge for orchestra (16'10)
- Kohlenfeuer for small orchestra (8'10)
- Erdbeben for ensemble (4'10)
- Wundmale for small ensemble (2'05)
Instrumentation: for eight - thirty two strings, eight - thirty two percussionists and eight - thirty two orators
Three concept pieces for a half-theatrical performance in purely verbal notation. Merry musical fairytale pieces created for children where each piece can also be performed singularly. Barely any technical difficulties but does require carefully controlled study of the tonal procedures. A stage director takes care of all the sensibly formed optical moments.
Ein Jahreslauf, 24 Reigen durch alle Tonarten (1976-1980)
Instrumentation: for piano
Piano pieces for cult or concertante use; one piece for each half of the month. Can also be performed individually (relative to the respective date). Medium level of difficulty: the performance of the whole cycle, however, requires an excellent sense of time and persistent attentiveness. The pieces are traditional, exactly notated but with several novel suggestions, which are explained in the foreword. Work on this kind of music demands a readiness to understand the occult theories that form the basis of Rudolph Steiner's spiritual science, or serves at least to initiate this readiness.
Instrumentation: for two violins, viola, two violoncelli, two clarinets, two horns and two bassoons
Precisely notated chamber music containing no unusual playing techniques. The four cycles 'Langer Marsch', 'Langer Walzer', 'Kurzer Marsch', 'Kurzer Walzer', can be performed individually. Some pieces are finicky, others simple. Emotional, placative music with many allusions to the life of Rudi Dutschkes to whom the piece is dedicated.
Instrumentation: for singers and instruments on play-back tape
Texts: William Shakespeare
- Incidental music for a scenic performance of A Mid Summer Nights Dream.
- Radio play music for a radiophonic summary of A Mid Summer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare.
Duration: 45'00" bzw. 65'00" Manuscript
Die vier Bücher: 1. Liederbuch (1955-1979)
Instrumentation: for one singing voice and piano
Based on Robert Walser. A total of eighty pieces, a compositional Summa in (exaggerated terms) eighty different techniques. Robert Walser is present in all of the 10 plus 12 plus 6 plus 8 cycles and also Robert Schumann in the very last of the eighty pieces. Texts have been really set to music and do not just used fro reasons of structure and motto. They have been composed up to thirteen times. This turns the word-sound relationship of the piece on its head. All eighty pieces are written in a severe style and are situated somewhere between the radically experimental and radically compositorial approaches.
Instrumentation: for eight singing voices (2S.2A.2T.2B)
A total of eighty pieces, a compositional Summa in (exaggerated terms) eighty different techniques. Robert Walser is present in all of the 10 plus 12 plus 6 plus 8 cycles and also Robert Schumann in the very last of the eighty pieces. Texts have been really set to music and do not just used fro reasons of structure and motto. They have been composed up to thirteen times. This turns the word-sound relationship of the piece on its head. All eighty pieces are written in a severe style and are situated somewhere between the radically experimental and radically compositorial approaches.
A total of eighty pieces, a compositional Summa in (exaggerated terms) eighty different techniques. Robert Walser is present in all of the 10 plus 12 plus 6 plus 8 cycles and also Robert Schumann in the very last of the eighty pieces. Texts have been really set to music and do not just used fro reasons of structure and motto. They have been composed up to thirteen times. This turns the word-sound relationship of the piece on its head. All eighty pieces are written in a severe style and are situated somewhere between the radically experimental and radically compositorial approaches.
Instrumentation: for eight woodwind and strings (2.2.2.2/2.4.6.4.2)
Based on Robert Walser. A total of eighty pieces, a compositional Summa in (exaggerated terms) eighty different techniques. Robert Walser is present in all of the 10 plus 12 plus 6 plus 8 cycles and also Robert Schumann in the very last of the eighty pieces. Texts have been really set to music and do not just used fro reasons of structure and motto. They have been composed up to thirteen times. This turns the word-sound relationship of the piece on its head. All eighty pieces are written in a severe style and are situated somewhere between the radically experimental and radically compositorial approaches.
Instrumentation: for any instrumentation (also of a non-musical type)
Fifty-five leaves, each with two related texts, for multidisciplinary performances: any number of musicians, actors/actresses and further participants help themselves to any number of leaves in order to assist them in the preparation of their actions; dedicated to the actress and friend of many years Janet Haufler.
- Hohe Lieder, for singing and five - seven instruments (10')- Du, der im Versteck des Höchsten sitzt, for horn (5'-10')- Gleiche Sprüche, for two speakers and twenty two - twenty six instruments (6'-12')- O Glück ihrer, die schlichten Wegs sind, for two pianists (12')
Based on Martin Buber.
material for a theatre piece with a minimum of four performers
Duration: var. Manuscript
Häresie (1983-1984)
Warm up excercise
Instrumentation: for two-hundred solo recorders (100S, 60A, 30T, 10B)
This work was inspired by Conrad Steinmann, who then undertook the organisation of the four performances in May 1984. Two hundred single voices in a large-scale process of respiration; this impressive work makes an unheard of ethereal sound and a seemingly utopian form of collective performance audible, it ends in a full minute of absolute silence. The voices are simple, are offered a certain amount of freedom and allow the player plenty of time to listen. A large and simple "clock" provides the (generous) synchronisation. One needs 10 bass, 30 tenor, 60 alto and 100 soprano recorders. The score (condensed version) is also a document for the creation of the two hundred single voices.
Instrumentation: for electronic tape, slide projection, light and possibly a silent protagonist
Texts: Friedrich Hebbel
A contribution to the forgotten category of radio opera. This piece was commissioned by the Swiss Radio Association and is based on an altered interpretation of a scene fragment written by Friedrich Hebbel. A scenic presentation of this piece is possible without stretching the possibilities of a modern opera house, it employs no singing people, at best only symbolic figures are required. The theme of this opera is a world dialogue between two spiritual powers.
Friedrich Hölderlin Trilogie II: Mit Pindar (1984-1986)
Instrumentation: for speaker, string instruments and others
- Todeslinien for violoncello or similar (with bourdon ad lib.)
- Mit Liebenswürdigkeit for 5-7 speakers
- Lebenstänze for viola or similar (with bourdon ad lib.)
Robert Walser Trilogie I,1: Die schöne Frau von Thun (1987)
Six life-images
Instrumentation: for three pairs of (string and/or wind) instruments
A cycle based on savage and partly lost writings; "Die schöne Frau von Thun" uses six instruments, which can be relatively freely chosen; "Tobold" is a compositional concept, formal and extremely variable in its instrumentation (the composer has arranged one version); "Das Mädchen mit den schönen Augen" is the last work before the composer's non-composing phase, maliciously simple, supposedly humorous – it is dedicated to the performer Marion Leyh.
Instrumentation: for choir voices and orchestral groups
A cycle based on savage and partly lost writings; "Die schöne Frau von Thun" uses six instruments, which can be relatively freely chosen; "Tobold" is a compositional concept, formal and extremely variable in its instrumentation (the composer has arranged one version); "Das Mädchen mit den schönen Augen" is the last work before the composer's non-composing phase, maliciously simple, supposedly humorous - it is dedicated to the performer Marion Leyh.
Duration: variabel (Ausarbeitung durch den Komponisten: 10'00")
Robert Walser Trilogie I,3: Das Mädchen mit den schönen Augen (1988)
Two fantasy pieces
Instrumentation: for oboe and trumpet (or two other, slightly different instruments)
A cycle based on savage and partly lost writings; "Die schöne Frau von Thun" uses six instruments, which can be relatively freely chosen; "Tobold" is a compositional concept, formal and extremely variable in its instrumentation (the composer has arranged one version); "Das Mädchen mit den schönen Augen" is the last work before the composer's non-composing phase, maliciously simple, supposedly humorous - it is dedicated to the performer Marion Leyh.
Das erste Stück ist in allen seinen Erscheinungsformen symmetrisch.
Es muss so zart und leis wie möglich gespielt werden.
Die Streicher verwenden ausschliesslich leere Saiten oder Flageoletts; diese sollen nicht leiser klingen als die leeren Saiten, und diese nicht lauter als die Flageoletts.
Das Klavier passt sich den Klängen der Streicher genau an.
Das zweite Stück ist ein mögliches Gegenteil des ersten.
1100 Studien, Acht Hefte mit verschiedenartigsten Notationen (1955-1994)
Instrumentation: free score (also non-musically)
A total of over a thousand single leaves filled with bars, notes, pictures, text and numbers. Until now it is mostly self-composed and stretches from soli to orchestral works. It also includes some non-musical material (more can be requested). This study, or better said, 'knowledge items' (so called music with its roots in art) is dedicated to friends of the composer.
These pieces arose during a year accompanying the documentary film maker Urs Graf and form, after the process of their development was identified, the final part of the feature-length film. The title 'Ins Unbekannte der Musik' (into the musical unknown) carries the sub-title 'Urs Peter Schneider: 36 Existenzen' (36 Existences). This consists of 17 existences: three-part sacral dances and contredanses for five instruments in the higher register (8'30), and 19 existences: four-part profane dances and concert dances for seven instruments in the deeper register (9'30).
Examples for continuous (optic and/or acoustic) realisation - installations of indefinite duration
Published in: Susanne Muller catalogue (special edition).
Duration: var. Manuscript
Jericho (2000-2004)
Instrumentation: for any sources of sound
Collected concepts for various realisations with a maximum of eleven performers; a teeny-weeny 'concert tub' produced in cooperation with Tzie Elgna and Ludger von Diedrichsfeld, Dora Hermine Eybling and Margot Erdmute von Drajschenfleygh. It is to be understood as a kind of worthy comparison to the piece 'Babel'. Dedicated to the conceptualist Marion Leyh (the second partner).
Robert Walser Trilogie III,1: Die Liebe in den leichten Worten (2003)
Two Albumleaves
Instrumentation: for fidel and gamba (or two slightly differeing instruments)
A last cycle, which mirrors the first in many ways, based closely on restructured texts by the poet. "Die Liebe in den leichten Worten" continues semantic distraction in unsophisticated seconds, deceptive and beautiful; "Kanal" is a conceptual composition, creating artificial folklore, and sentences of a piece of prosa, quasi idyllic continuation (the composer himself has created one version); "Das leichte End in Bern" is to be scored in a monochrome fashion with six identical instruments. It tells of disappearance into anonymity, of poltergeists and much more; it is dedicated to the performer Eva Fuhrer.
Instrumentation: for speaking voice and chamber ensemble
A last cycle, which mirrors the first in many ways, based closely on restructured texts by the poet. "Die Liebe in den leichten Worten" continues semantic distraction in unsophisticated seconds, deceptive and beautiful; "Kanal" is a conceptual composition, creating artificial folklore, and sentences of a piece of prosa, quasi idyllic continuation (the composer himself has created one version); "Das leichte End in Bern" is to be scored in a monochrome fashion with six identical instruments. It tells of disappearance into anonymity, of poltergeists and much more; it is dedicated to the performer Eva Fuhrer.
Duration: variabel (Ausarbeitung durch den Komponisten: 10'00")
Instrumentation: for three pairs of (plucked and/or percussion) instruments
A last cycle, which mirrors the first in many ways, based closely on restructured texts by the poet. "Die Liebe in den leichten Worten" continues semantic distraction in unsophisticated seconds, deceptive and beautiful; "Kanal" is a conceptual composition, creating artificial folklore and sentences of a piece of prosa, quasi idyllic continuation (the composer himself has created one version); "Das leichte End in Bern" is to be scored in a monochrome fashion with six identical instruments. It tells of disappearance into anonymity, of poltergeists and much more; it is dedicated to the performer Eva Fuhrer.
Peter Sauschneider Trilogie II: Mit Haydn (2005-2007)
Instrumentation: for piano, organ and various instruments
- Wesensteile für Klavier (with or without string instruments)
- Mit Hintergründigkeit for 2 x 15 instruments and paper sounds
- Tageswiegen für Orgel (with or without percussion instrument)
Instrumentation: for historical, traditional, exotic and experimental instruments (four of each)
Each of the four (almost identical) pieces presents a self-contained cyclical process "without beginning or end". Temporal and spatial characteristics are blurred, directly related to each other; the performers read the score and stand in a state of mutual dependence in only partly controllable situations full of paradoxes. The audience is presented with an intimate, quantitative and qualitative, hardly definable, continually relativising complete process.
- Engelszungenreden für acht Singstimmen
- Siebenmeilensteine für einen Klaviervirtuosen
- Sonnabendsrauschen für acht Sprechstimmen
- Rauchzeichensprache für einen Mischpultvirtuosen
Das Werk geht von der Annahme aus, dass jegliche Notation (jede der 120 Seiten) szenisch (optisch und/oder akustisch) umgesetzt werden kann; viele Seiten sind direkt interpretierbar, viele andere erfordern Fantasie; zu diesen muss wohl Einiges hinzuerfunden werden, jedoch nicht zu schon definierten Parametern; es ist oft unumgänglich, nur Ausschnitte der Notation zu verwenden, wenn die Zeit nicht ausreicht, wobei aber Symmetrien bewahrt werden sollen.