Professional activity: Composers, Interpreters, Authors
Biography
* 06. 10. 1921, † 13. 11. 2013.
Boris Mersson, Swiss with Russian ancestry, is a citizen of Montreux. He was born in Berlin and received his first musical instruction in piano and violin at the age of five, he first appeared in public at the age of ten. He completed further piano studies under Isidore Karr in Geneva and then in the professional and master class of Henri Stierlin-Vallon at the Lausanne Conservatory. He completed his education to become a conductor under Hermann Scherchen in Zurich and Herbert von Karajan in Lucerne. As a polyvalent musician Boris Mersson operated as soloist, conductor, educationalist and composer. He received numerous awards, both nationally and internationally, for his accomplishments in composition. Piano recitals and chamber music concerts led Boris Mersson to many different cities in Switzerland and Europe, in the USA and Brazil. As a conductor for orchestra he has performed in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, in France at the 'Nuits pianistiques d'Aix-en-Provence' and at the Ravello Sorrento Festival. Boris Mersson's compositions (many of which where specific commissions e.g. from the 'Tonhalle-Gesellschaft' in Zurich) confirm his capacity to work in all musical styles, including the music of the Third Stream.
Work list
Introduction et Saltarella (1933-1936)
Instrumentation: for piano
Duration: 3' 30" Manuscript
Cinq pièces burlesques, op. 1 (1937-1938)
A form of impressions
Instrumentation: for piano
1. Sonia et le miroir
2. Colin-Maillard
3. Arc-en-ciel
4. Polichinelle et burlesque
5. Casse-noisette
'Cinq pièces burlesques' was created in 1938 while the composer was a student in the solists' class at the conservatory in Lausanne. He was influenced by the French school, most particularly by the daring incursions made by the 'Group des six'. 'Cinq pièces burlesques' is Boris Mersson's answer to Arthur Honegger's 'Sept pièces brèves'.
Duration: 5' 30" Manuscript
Five Short Pieces for Small Orchestra, op.1 (1937-1938/1950)
Version for orchestra
Instrumentation: for small orchestra (1.1.2.1/1.1.1.1/2perc/hp/str)
Instrumentation: for alto saxophone and large harmonic orchestra (pic.2.2.Ebcl.Bbcl.acl.bcl.2.cbn.4sx.4/2cnt.4.3euph.3.1/timp.2perc/str with db) or with symphonic orchestra (2(pi).2.2.2/4.2.3.1/timp.2perc)
Duration: 20' 00"
Schulz-Verlage
Freiburg-Tiengen
Terpsichore-Suite, op. 5f (1966)
Instrumentation: for large orchestra (3.2.3.2/4.3.2.1/timp.perc.cel/hp/str)
1. Rigaudon2. Elegie3. Danse rustique
Duration: 13' 30" Manuscript
Elegie (1966)
Instrumentation: for violoncello (or horn) and piano
From the orchestra suite 'Terpsichore', op. 5f.
Duration: 5' 00"
Ediziun Trais Giats
Ardez
Fluidum, op. 26 (1966)
Instrumentation: for piccolo, English horn, viola, violoncello and percussion
Duration: 14' 00" Manuscript
Hommage à Schoenberg, op. 27 (1966)
Instrumentation: for piccolo, flute, English horn, viola, violoncello and percussion
Duration: 5' 00" Manuscript
Concerto, op. 29 (1968)
Instrumentation: for piano and harmonic orchestra (2.2.4.2.4/3.2.0.1.0/3.3.1.1/timp.perc/perc) or with a symphonic orchestra (2.2.3.2/4.3.3.1/timp.perc/hp.cel.pf/str)
1. Allegro con brio2. Molto tranquillo e sognando3. Vivace, ma non troppo presto - Toccata
Duration: 18' 00"
Schulz-Verlage
Freiburg-Tiengen
Der Spiegel, op. 30 (1968)
Instrumentation: for a large orchestra (version for two pianos and three percussionists)
Ballet based on a Japanese tale.
Duration: 43' 00" Manuscript
Quatro Improvvisazioni, op. 28 (1968-1969)
Instrumentation: for piano, violin and violoncello
Instrumentation: for soprano, twelve wind instruments (2.2.2.2.4), violoncello, double-bass and crotales
Texts: Mascha Kaléko
Text: M. Kaléko.
Duration: 20' 00" Manuscript
Cantate, op. 50 (1991)
Instrumentation: for mixed choir and wind orchestra (pic.2.2.Ebcl.3Bbcl.acl.bcl.2.4sx/4.3.3euph.3.1/timp.2perc/str with db) or symphonic orchestra (2(pic).2.2.bcl.2/4.3.3.1/timp.2perc/str)
Texts: Franz Fassbind
Text: F. Fassbind.
Duration: 18' 00" Manuscript
Die alte Tanne (1991)
Instrumentation: for baritone and piano
Texts: Otto Frick
Song based ona text by Otto Frick.
Duration: 3' 00" Manuscript
Capriccio concertante, op. 51 (1994)
Instrumentation: for flute(s), string orchestra and small percussion