Josef Haselbach was born in Gams, St. Gallen. Following his undergraduate education he studied at the 'Musikakademie Zürich' (Zurich Academy of Music) and the University of Zurich (music theory under Kurt von Fischer, psychology and philosophy). From 1964 to 1968 he studied composition with Klaus Huber at the 'Musikakademie der Stadt Basel' (Basel City Academy of Music). Between 1975 and 1989 he taught theory at Zurich Conservatory and the 'Musikhochschule Zürich' (Zurich School of Music). In 1994 Josef Haselbach won the C.F.Meyer Foundation Prize and the Zollikon Music Prize.
The title bears in mind the instrument, and points to the difficulties of a gentle and song-like touch, which is required of the performers in very specific ways.
Duration: 6' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
Limmatquai 28-30 CH-8001 Zürich
Out-Side (1976)
Instrumentation: for flute, clarinet, viola, violoncello and guitar
Duration: 22' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
Limmatquai 28-30 CH-8001 Zürich
Trema (1976-1977)
Instrumentation: for violoncello solo and wind (2fl.ob.ca.3cl/2hn.1tpt.2t-btbn/pf/perc)
Rich in colour, a far-reaching piece for orchestra with a demanding solo part.
Duration: 25' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
Limmatquai 28-30 CH-8001 Zürich
Abendlied (Evening Song) (1977)
Instrumentation: for violoncello solo
The title is to be understood in the traditional sense of evening music. It should also give some indication to the piece being composed in one evening.
Duration: 7' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
Limmatquai 28-30 CH-8001 Zürich
Ode an Zürich (1977)
Instrumentation: for mixed choir
Texts: Eugen Gomringer, Kurt Marti, Josef Haselbach
Text: Eugen Gomringer, Kurt Marti, Josef Haselbach.
A solo piece characteristically quiet, sonoric and expressive.
Duration: 6' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
Limmatquai 28-30 CH-8001 Zürich
Alleluja II zu "Missa in festo Pentecostes" (1985)
Instrumentation: for clarinet and viola
Part of a joint composition: Proprium part of the Whitsunday mass by H. Holliger, H.U. Lehmann, J. Haselbach, P. Wettstein, G. Bennett and J. Wildberger.
"The idea springs from the sentence, that all events cast a shadow before hand. This idea is developed in style so that the interpreters first play independently of each other, conjoin and become once again independent". (Foreword to the score).
Instrumentation: for thirteen solo strings (4.4.0.4.1)
"The music is stamped with rhythmical, dance like elements and rambling melody" (Th. Gartmann).
This piece is the first part of a trilogy based on Mozart’s Don Giovanni.
Duration: 12' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
Limmatquai 28-30 CH-8001 Zürich
Leporellos Traum (The Dream of Leporello) (1989)
Instrumentation: for string orchestra, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and piano
"A rhythmically moved, gesture-full, richly chromatic music." (Th. Gartmann) Second part of the trilogy based on Mozart's 'Don Giovanni'.