Arthur Furer was born in Worb, a village close to the Swiss capital of Berne. He graduated from the cantonal teacher's seminar and subsequently studied violin, school singing and choir leading at the conservatory in Berne, his training was rounded off by studies at Berne University. He initially worked as the solo violist with the Bernese Chamber Orchestra, as violinist in the symphony orchestra and as a multifaceted chamber musician, also together with the chamber ensemble of Radio Berne.
From 1952 until 1988 Furer was responsible for the musical training of students at the Marzili Seminar in Berne, he also lead various established choirs.
As a result of these comprehensive activities, within which the compositions of his own work played a key role, Furer was awarded the Pro-Arte Foundation Prize in 1966 and the music prize offered by the canton of Berne in 1984.
Further awards were attributed at various international competitions, the greatest accolade was awarded at the 6th Concorso lnternazionale di Musica "G.B. Viotti" 1955 of Vercelli (I).
"Free from the ties of any particular contemporary school I search, with every composition, for an appropriate style which suits the content and myself at that time." (Arthur Furer)
Work list
Kanon (1945)
Instrumentation: for 3 violins or 3 violas (solo or choral) or three high voices
Instrumentation: for three-part elite female choir (poss. trio solo)
Texts: W. Dietiker
An den Frühling
Blumenmärchen
Sommertag
Sommerstille
Aufschwung
Herbsttag
Winter
Wintermärchen
In addition to 4 intonations for 3 violins (or alto saxophone or clarinet) ad libitum.
Instrumentation: for choir (SATB) high solo voice from the choir and orchestra (1.1.0.0/1.1.1.0/timp/str)
Three-part cantata after choral texts and texts painted on the walls of houses in the German language. Specially suitable for the inauguration of new buildings, also for secular celebrations.
Instrumentation: for 3 violins and violoncelo (+ double bass)
Entrata - Capriccio - Marcia solenne - Ballo - Conclusione.
This suite of concert etudes can be performed solo or chorally. It is particularly suitable for music schools and advanced amateur orchestras without violas.
Instrumentation: for voice and organ with violin ad lib. (concertante: violin obligatory)
Wacht auf vom Schlaf (Furer)
In uns ist alle Schwäche (Thürer)
Abendmahlslied (Gretler)
Pfingstlied (Walter)
Herr, Du siehst (Zehnder)
Gottes Wort (Walter)
The numbers 1, 4 and 5 for mixed choir also.
Volkslied (anon)
Gefunden (Goethe)
Gleich und gleich (Goethe)
Rastlose Liebe (Goethe)
Erstes Liebeslied eines Mädchens (Mörike)
Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag (Mörike)
Das verlassene Mägdlein (Mörike)
Auf ein altes Bild (Mörike)
Requiem (Meyer)
Wiegenlied (Brentano)
September (Hesse)
Bitte (Hesse)
Albumblatt (Borchert)
Auf dem Maskenball (Falke)
Erlösung (Barfuss)
Die alten Berner (Barfuss)
Di alte Bärner (Barfuss / Furer)
Bärner Wappespruch (Spiess)
Garteloube (Jäggi)
Instrumentation: for octet (cl.bn/hn/2vn.va.vc.db)
Entrata - Capriccio - Malinconia - Scherzo - Marcia con brio.
Expansion of "Ernst und Heiter" to octet.
Also possible as divertimento for a small string orchestra and 3 wind instrumentalists.
Früelig (Reinhard)
Der Summer chunnt (Furer)
Rössli Hü (Furer)
Es Tänzli (Klavier solo)
Räge-Liedli (Furer)
Schlafliedli (Schürch / Furer)
Herbscht
Es Liedli ohni Wort (Klavier solo)
D Maria singt (Lehmann)
Winterliedli
Christmonat (Weinheber)
Die kleine Hex (Bicinium)
Ich möcht für 1000 Taler nicht
Arlequin et Colombine (Pariser Lesebuch / Furer)
Instrumentation: for soli (SABar), choir (SATB) and orchestra (1.1.1.1.sax/2.1.1.0/timp.perc/hp/str)
An ecumenical patchwork after words by Karl Wilhelm Ramler (Psalm 19) and Buddhist, Islamic and Jewish prayer texts.
The foreign texts are notated phonetically.
Mühlemann, Marianne: "Mit Jungen zu arbeiten - ein Traumjob". Heute feiert der Musiker und Komponist Arthur Furrer den 85. Geburtstag - eine Begegnung, in: Der Bund (28. März 2009) (2009)
Schönenberger, Walter: Es ist alles eine Frage des Masses, in: Der Bund (27. März 1999) (1999)
Pantillon, François: Arthur Furer des chemins universels, in: Revue musicale de Suisse Romande (Septembre 1997) (1997)
Favre, Max: Auf eigenem Weg zwischen den Fronten, in: Der Bund 73 (1994)
Kuhn-Indermühle, Brigitte: Arthur Furers Sololieder, in: Schweizer musikpädagogische Blätter 4 (1993)
Liebi, Agnes: Junge Menschen zur Musik geleitet, in: Der Bund (September 1988) (1988)
Etter, Martin: Ehrentag für Arthur Furer, in: Der Bund (24. September 1984) (1984)
Zimmermann, Marie-Louise: Arthur Furer. Komponist, Dirigent, Lehrer ("Ich bin auch ein Brückenbauer"), in: Brückenbauer (4.April 1984) 14 (1984)
Kläy, Walter: Die grossen Meister als Lehrer: Arthur Furer, in: Der kleine Bund (14. Mai 1979) (1979)
Favre, Max: Der goldene Mittelweg. Arthur Furer, in: Der Bund (26. März 1974) 71 (1974)
Kläy, Walter: Arthur Furer, in: Radio + Fernsehen 52 (1969)
Pfluger, Rolf: Das Musikleben in der Schweiz (Arthur Furer), in: Oesterreichische Musikzeitschrift (24. Jahrgang) 3 (1969)
Kaufmann, Arthur: Interview mit Arthur Furer, in: die linie, kulturpolitisch-zeitkritische umschau 6 (1964)
Weibel, Kurt: Der Komponist Arthur Furer, in: Radio + Fernsehen 26 (1960)