Waespi Oliver
(05. 11. 1971)
Genre: Classical Music
Biography
* 05. 11. 1971.
Oliver Waespi, born in Zurich in 1971, studied composition as well as conducting and film music at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Zurich and completed his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London and in masterclasses. His tutors include Simon Bain- bridge, André Bellmont, Gerald Bennett, Sylvia Caduff, Peter Maxwell Davies, Brian Elias, Klaus Huber, Mark Kissoczy, Andreas Nick and Alfred Reed. Oliver Waespi’s music is per- formed by symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles, soloists, choirs and numerous sym- phonic wind orchestras and brass bands all around the world. Works by Oliver Waespi have been performed at the George Enescu Festival, the Gstaad Menuhin Festival, the BBC's Hear and Now concert series, Swiss National Band Conventions, WASBE World Conferences, CBDNA Conferences, European Brass Band Festivals and numerous other festivals and con- certs. In addition, he regularly conducts workshops, works as a juror and teaches at the Bern University of the Arts.
Oliver Waespi pursues a wide range of musical interests, which leads him to composition projects in various areas. This also creates references to other art forms. Works such as "Volatile Gravity" for Jojo Mayer and the Basel Sinfonietta, "Viaduct" for the BBC Philhar- monic Orchestra or "Hypercube" for the Paris Brass Band can be heard as musical interpre- tations of urban landscapes and architectures. A project for the Ensemble TaG led to the combination of music with contemporary dance. Various pieces have references to poetry, such as "Flut" for the BBC Singers, "Nachtferne" for the Berne Chamber Orchestra, "Azur" for l'art pour l'Aar, "Weisser Atem" for the Brodsky string quartet, or "Ad Astra" for the Nouvel Ensemble Contemporain.
Some of Oliver Waespi’s works are reflections on folk music and early music. These include "As If A Voice Were in Them", "Traversada" or "Audivi Media Nocte". The latter piece brought him worldwide recognition among leading ensembles and reflects Waespi's ap- proach of combining individual, groove-related rhythms with the spatiality of orchestral structures. Other examples in this line of thought are pieces such as the "Divertimento" for the Swiss Wind Band Convention, "Out of Earth" for the symphonic wind orchestra Aulos or "At the Crossroads", commissioned by the Jena Philharmonic and the Brass Band BlechKlang. Several solo concerts complete Oliver Waespi’s body of work, including concer- tos for guitar and flute, harp and piano, french horn, trombone, euphonium and tuba.
For his music, Oliver Waespi received numerous awards. These include the International George Enescu Composition Prize in 2003, the London Fellowship awarded by the Landis and Gyr Cultural Foundation in 2005/2006, a prize at the Uuno Klami Composing Competi- tion in Finland in 2009, composition grants of the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia and the Dutch Eduard van Beinum Foundation, the Composition Prize of the Swiss Federation of Orchestras (EOV) in 2011, the NBA Revelli Award in the USA in 2013, the Stephan Jaeggi Prize in 2014 or the International BUMA Brass Award in the Netherlands in 2015.
Oliver Waespi, born in Zurich in 1971, studied composition as well as conducting and film music at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Zurich and completed his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London and in masterclasses. His tutors include Simon Bain- bridge, André Bellmont, Gerald Bennett, Sylvia Caduff, Peter Maxwell Davies, Brian Elias, Klaus Huber, Mark Kissoczy, Andreas Nick and Alfred Reed. Oliver Waespi’s music is per- formed by symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles, soloists, choirs and numerous sym- phonic wind orchestras and brass bands all around the world. Works by Oliver Waespi have been performed at the George Enescu Festival, the Gstaad Menuhin Festival, the BBC's Hear and Now concert series, Swiss National Band Conventions, WASBE World Conferences, CBDNA Conferences, European Brass Band Festivals and numerous other festivals and con- certs. In addition, he regularly conducts workshops, works as a juror and teaches at the Bern University of the Arts.
Oliver Waespi pursues a wide range of musical interests, which leads him to composition projects in various areas. This also creates references to other art forms. Works such as "Volatile Gravity" for Jojo Mayer and the Basel Sinfonietta, "Viaduct" for the BBC Philhar- monic Orchestra or "Hypercube" for the Paris Brass Band can be heard as musical interpre- tations of urban landscapes and architectures. A project for the Ensemble TaG led to the combination of music with contemporary dance. Various pieces have references to poetry, such as "Flut" for the BBC Singers, "Nachtferne" for the Berne Chamber Orchestra, "Azur" for l'art pour l'Aar, "Weisser Atem" for the Brodsky string quartet, or "Ad Astra" for the Nouvel Ensemble Contemporain.
Some of Oliver Waespi’s works are reflections on folk music and early music. These include "As If A Voice Were in Them", "Traversada" or "Audivi Media Nocte". The latter piece brought him worldwide recognition among leading ensembles and reflects Waespi's ap- proach of combining individual, groove-related rhythms with the spatiality of orchestral structures. Other examples in this line of thought are pieces such as the "Divertimento" for the Swiss Wind Band Convention, "Out of Earth" for the symphonic wind orchestra Aulos or "At the Crossroads", commissioned by the Jena Philharmonic and the Brass Band BlechKlang. Several solo concerts complete Oliver Waespi’s body of work, including concer- tos for guitar and flute, harp and piano, french horn, trombone, euphonium and tuba.
For his music, Oliver Waespi received numerous awards. These include the International George Enescu Composition Prize in 2003, the London Fellowship awarded by the Landis and Gyr Cultural Foundation in 2005/2006, a prize at the Uuno Klami Composing Competi- tion in Finland in 2009, composition grants of the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia and the Dutch Eduard van Beinum Foundation, the Composition Prize of the Swiss Federation of Orchestras (EOV) in 2011, the NBA Revelli Award in the USA in 2013, the Stephan Jaeggi Prize in 2014 or the International BUMA Brass Award in the Netherlands in 2015.
Work list
Short Drama for String Quartet (2000)
Duration: 7' 30"
Manuscript
Skies (2000)
Instrumentation: for symphonic brass ensemble (3fl.2ob.ca.2bn.Ebcl.9bcl.bsstcl.cbcl.4sx/4hn.3tpt.3tbn.2euph.2tba/perc/str)
Duration: 17' 00"
Molenaar Edition
Wormerveer
Holland
Holland
Passacaglia (2001)
Instrumentation: for brass ensemble (9cnt.1flhn.3hn.2bar.2euph.3tbn.4tba/perc)
Duration: 12' 00"
Manuscript
Konzert für Horn und Orchester (2001)
Instrumentation: for solo horn and orchestra (2.2.2.2/2.2.0.0/3perc/hp/6.6.4.3.2)
Duration: 16' 00"
Manuscript
Jardins (2002)
Instrumentation: for flute, clarinet, violin, violoncello, piano
Duration: 12' 00"
Manuscript
Nachtferne (2003)
Instrumentation: for chamber orchestra (1.1.1.1/1.1.0.0/perc/str)
Duration: 14' 00"
Manuscript
Intermezzi (2003)
Instrumentation: for piano
Duration: 14' 00"
Manuscript
Land's End (2003)
Instrumentation: for brass ensemble (9cnt.1flhn.3hn.2bar.2euph.3tbn.4tba/perc)
Duration: 15' 00"
Manuscript
3 Preludes (2003)
Instrumentation: for trumpet and piano
Duration: 7' 00"
Manuscript
Islands (2002-2004)
Instrumentation: for large orchestra (3.3.3.3/4.3.3.1/4perc/12.12.10.8.6)
Duration: 15' 00"
Manuscript
Symphonic Variations (2004)
Instrumentation: for symphonic brass ensemble (3fl.2ob.ca.2bn.cbn.Ebcl.9cl-b.bcl.cbcl.4sx/4hn.3tpt.3tbn.2euph.2tba/perc/hp/db)
Duration: 17' 30"
Beriato Music Edition
Festive Fanfare (2004)
Instrumentation: for band
Duration: 2' 00"
Beriato Music Edition
South Uist Variations (2004)
Instrumentation: for brass quartet
Duration: 12' 00"
Manuscript
Il Cantico (2005)
Instrumentation: for symphonic band (3fl, 2ob, ca, 2bn, cbn, cl-Eb, 9bcl, cl-Bb, cbcl, 4sx, 4hn, 3tpt, 3tbn, 2euph, 2tba, vcl, db, hp, perc)
The poetic template for this piece is provided by the Franciscan Canticle of Brother Sun. "Il Cantico", in a way similar to this mystical poem's emanation of and direction at the sun, is built on a single motivic gamete which works its way through the whole piece in a multifaceted manner.
The music is rudimentarily based on certain elements of the poem, most particularly earth & fire and the moon as an antipole of the sun.
Duration: 15' 30"
Beriato Music Edition
Second Sinfonietta (2005)
Instrumentation: for symphonic band (3fl, 2ob, ca, 2bn, cbn, cl-Eb, 9bcl, cl-Bb, cbcl, 4sx, 4hn, 3tpt, 3tbn, 2euph, 2tba, vcl, db, hp, perc)
Duration: 16' 00"
Beriato Music Edition
Falls (2006)
Instrumentation: for piano
Duration: 3' 00"
Manuscript
Auréole (2006)
Instrumentation: for solo violin
Duration: 5' 00"
Manuscript
East End (2006)
Instrumentation: for solo trombone
Duration: 8' 00"
Manuscript
Moving Sculpture (2006)
Instrumentation: for wind sextet (fl, ob, cl, bcl, bn, hn)
Duration: 5' 30"
Manuscript
La vie antérieure (2006)
Instrumentation: for a-cappella choir (SSAATB)
Texts: Charles Baudelaire
Duration: 4' 30"
Manuscript
Pulse (2006)
Sonata
Instrumentation: for viola and piano
Duration: 6' 00"
Manuscript
Instrumentation: for viola and piano
Duration: 6' 00"
Manuscript
Temples (2006)
Instrumentation: for symphonic band (3fl, 2ob, ca, 2bn, cbn, cl-Eb, 9bcl, cl-Bb, cbcl, 4sx, 4hn, 4tpt, 4tbn, 2euph, 2tba, db, hp, perc)
"Temples" was inspired by the Angkor temple complex in Cambodia and various parts of The Book of Prayers in the Bible. Four paragraphs embody awakening (Phnom Bakheng), conflict (Bayon), sorrow (Preah Khan) and regeneration (Angkor Wat). Eight distant instruments demolish the symphonic wind band's familiar sound pattern symbolising the architecture of Bayon, the erstwhile central temple and its eight Gopuras at the city of Angkor Thom.
Duration: 28' 00"
Beriato Music Edition
Legenda Rumantscha (2006)
Instrumentation: for symphonic band (3fl, 2ob, ca, 2bn, cbn, cl-Eb, 9bcl, cl-Bb, cbcl, 4sx, 4hn, 3tpt, 3tbn, 2euph, 2tba, vcl, db, hp, perc)
Duration: 11' 00"
Lucerne Music Edition
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Tel. +41(0)41 240 84 40
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CHG-6003 Luzern
Schweiz
Tel. +41(0)41 240 84 40
Fax +41 (0)41 240 84 41
info@lucerne-music-edition.ch
www.notencafe.ch
A Moléson (2007)
Instrumentation: for brass band
Duration: 4' 00"
Manuscript
Flut (2007)
Instrumentation: for a-cappella choir (SSAATTBB)
Texts: Ovid, Marie-Luise Kaschnitz
The texts by Ovid and Marie-Luise Kaschnitz illuminate the deluge from different aesthetic viewpoints and epochs. In "Flut", the text levels lead initially to differing music material and on to a kind of speech counterpoint and a process of densification, which continues through the whole composition. The texts and music ultimately meet on the word "Meer/mare".
Duration: 6' 30"
Manuscript
Weisser Atem (2006-2008)
Instrumentation: for string quartet
Duration: 6' 00"
Manuscript
Viaduct (2008)
Instrumentation: for symphony orchestra (3.3.3.3/4.3.3.1/1timp.3perc/str)
Duration: 14' 30"
Manuscript
Caledonia (2008)
Instrumentation: for band
Duration: 9' 00"
Manuscript
Berglicht (2008)
Instrumentation: for symphonic band (3fl, 2ob, ca, 2bn, cbn, cl-Eb, 9bcl, cl-Bb, cbcl, 4sx, 4hn, 4tpt, 4tbn, 2euph, 2tba, db, hp, perc)
Duration: 13' 00"
Beriato Music Edition
Double Concerto (2008)
Instrumentation: for guitar, flute and orchestra (0.2.2.bcl.2/2.2.1.0/perc/str)
Duration: 20' 00"
Manuscript
Piz Kesch "Round Midnight" (2008)
Instrumentation: for brass ensemble and percussion
Duration: 6' 00"
Manuscript
Canzun (2009)
Instrumentation: for symphonic wind orchestra
Duration: 9' 00"
Manuscript
Intrada (2009)
Instrumentation: for brass band
Duration: 10' 00"
Manuscript
Prolog (2009)
Instrumentation: for flute and bass clarinet
Duration: 3' 00"
Manuscript
Aquarell (2010)
Instrumentation: for symphony orchestra (2.2.2.2/2.2.2.0/str)
Duration: 3' 00"
Manuscript
Canticum (2010)
Instrumentation: for mixed choir and orchestra (3.2.2.2/2.0.0.0/str)
Texts: Francesco d'Assisi
Duration: 9' 00"
Manuscript
Audivi Media Nocte (2011)
Instrumentation: for brass band
Duration: 17' 00"
Manuscript
Divertimento (2011)
Instrumentation: for symphonic wind orchestra
Duration: 15' 00"
Manuscript
Sonar (2011)
Tuba concert
Instrumentation: for tuba solo and symphonic wind orchestra
Duration: 19' 00"
Manuscript
Instrumentation: for tuba solo and symphonic wind orchestra
Duration: 19' 00"
Manuscript
La Partenza (2012)
Instrumentation: for symphony orchestra (2.2.2.2/2.2.0.0/perc/str)
Duration: 14' 00"
Manuscript
Traversada (2013)
Instrumentation: for brass band
Duration: 12' 00"
Manuscript
Azur (2013)
Instrumentation: for piano, violin and 2 percussionists
Duration: 8' 00"
Manuscript
Konzert (2013)
Instrumentation: for euphonium solo and string orchestra
Duration: 21' 00"
Manuscript
Konzert (2013)
Instrumentation: for piano solo, harp solo and symphonic wind orchestra
Duration: 25' 00"
Manuscript
Discography
Festival L’art pour l’Aar 2012/14 (Müller & Schade Nr. CD 2012/14-1, 2014)
Frischknecht, Hans Eugen: 5 Bilder für Querflöte (2000)
Darbellay, Jean-Luc: Voile (2007)
Darbellay, Jean-Luc: Ori (2007)
Darbellay, Jean-Luc: Asia (2008)
Bovey, Pierre-André: Enlil (2009)
Gut, Ursula: Pas de deux du piano... et pour D. (2012)
Frischknecht, Hans Eugen: Lupoforte (2013)
Waespi, Oliver: Azur (2013)
Interpreters:
Frischknecht, Hans EugenWorks:
Bovey, Pierre-André: Réparties (1987)Frischknecht, Hans Eugen: 5 Bilder für Querflöte (2000)
Darbellay, Jean-Luc: Voile (2007)
Darbellay, Jean-Luc: Ori (2007)
Darbellay, Jean-Luc: Asia (2008)
Bovey, Pierre-André: Enlil (2009)
Gut, Ursula: Pas de deux du piano... et pour D. (2012)
Frischknecht, Hans Eugen: Lupoforte (2013)
Waespi, Oliver: Azur (2013)
Last updated: 2023-03-14 14:35:49