Jacques Wildberger was born in Basel. He was educated at Basel Conservatory and later studied composition under Wladimir Vogel. Between 1959 and 1966 he lectured in composition, analysis and instrumentation at the Baden School of Music in Karlsruhe. In 1967 he spent a term in Berlin as a DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) scholar, and up until the autumn of 1987 he taught composition, harmony, analysis and instrumentation at Basel Academy of Music. He lives in Riehen, near Basel. In 1960 he won the Basel Lions Club Prize, in 1965 the German Broadcasting Industry's Stereo Prize, in 1981 the Swiss Musicians Association Composition Prize, and in 1987 the Arts Prize of Riehen District Council.
"Ihr meint, das Leben sei kurz...". Cantata on Short Japanese Poems (1957)
Cantata based on japanese short poems.
Instrumentation: for choir, choir soli numbers, and instrumental ensemble (fl.cl.bcl/pf/perc/2vn.va.db)
Texts: Japanisch
Highly dependent on good diction and close conformity to the character of the text. An amateur choir with trained voices can overcome the difficulties contained within.
Instrumentation: for flute, English horn, guitar (also bass flute and oboe with contact-microphones) and electronic tape
After a short instrumental trio comes a two-channel electronic tape containing recorded text dealing with the relationship of the individual to the state. Based on this text the music gradually deteriorates leaving only white noise.
Instrumentation: for baritone and chamber orchestra (0.0.1.1/0.1.1.0/3perc/cel/5.4.3.3.1)
Texts: Johannes von Tepl, Novalis, Heinrich Heine
Text: Johannes von Tepl, Novalis, Heinrich Heine and others.
Duration: 19' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
Limmatquai 28-30 CH-8001 Zürich
"An die Hoffnung" (1979)
Instrumentation: for soprano, orator and orchestra (3.3.3.3/4.3.3.1/perc(3)/hp.cel/str)
Texts: Friedrich Hölderlin, Erich Fried, Volkslied, Jurek Becker
The soprano sings quotes from the 'Städtel-Lied' and text from Hölderlin and E. Fried. The orator recites chronicles of the holocaust in Nazi Germany and from J. Becker.All parts are demanding.
Duration: 18' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
Limmatquai 28-30 CH-8001 Zürich
Konzertante Szenen (1981)
Instrumentation: for saxophone and orchestra (38pic.afl).3(ca).3(bcl).3(cbn)/4.4.4.0/4perc/hp/cel/str)
From amidst noise there gradually emerges the distinct 'singing' of the instruments, with the dramatic entrance of angst in the climax (heartbeat). Right up to the end the 'singing' remains in abeyance of danger.
Instrumentation: for Soprano, bass clarinet, viola and organ
Texts: Bibel / Liturgie
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.
Duration: 9' 00" Manuscript
80 Jahre Paul Sacher (1985)
Instrumentation: for orchestra (2.2.2.2/2.2.0.0/perc/6.6.4.4.2)
Duration: 1' 20" Manuscript
Diaphanie (Fantasia super "Veni creator spiritus" et Canones diversi super "Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist") (1986)
Instrumentation: for viola solo
Partly extreme procreation of sounds (behind the bridge, scordatura of the fourth string at the end). Double flageolets and a mixture of firmly fingered tones with flageolets. There is a traditional beauty in the intonation, the play is expressive.
Duration: 9' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
Limmatquai 28-30 CH-8001 Zürich
"Los pajarillos no cantan" (The Birds Sing No Longer) (1987)
Instrumentation: for guitar solo
This piece is a reaction to the Chilean military putsch by Pinochet. The singing (partly quotes from songs of Chilean singers) is gradually stifled and trampled on by the sound of soldiers’ boots.
Glissando with glass baton and drumming of fingers on soundboard required.
Duration: 10' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
Limmatquai 28-30 CH-8001 Zürich
"Du holde Kunst" (1987-1988)
Profane representation
Instrumentation: for orator, soprano and orchestra (3.3.3.3/4.3.3.1/3perc/hp.pf/acn/cel.gtr/va(solo).12.10.5.6.4)
Texts: Peter Weiss, Günter Eich, Walter Benjamin, Stéphane Mallarmé
Text: Peter Weiss, Günter Eich, Walter Benjamin, Stéphane Mallarmé.
Duration: 20' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
Limmatquai 28-30 CH-8001 Zürich
... und füllet die Erde und machet sie euch untertan... (1988-1989)
Biblical history
Instrumentation: for orchestra (3(pic,afl,bfl).2.ca.3(bcl,cbcl).2.cbn/4.3.3.1/6perc/hp.pf/cel/12.10.8.8.6)
Duration: 17' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
Limmatquai 28-30 CH-8001 Zürich
Notturno (1990)
Instrumentation: for viola piano
Muted and alienated playing: flageolets from the viola and piano. Interference arises from clashing flageolets.
Tapping on the belly and fret-board, unusual bow strokes, interference between natural flageolets, ‘unisono’ on various strings.
Duration: 7' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
Limmatquai 28-30 CH-8001 Zürich
Elegy (1994-1995)
Instrumentation: for soprano and chamber ensemble (clarinet/bass clarinet, bassoon, percussion and string quintet)
Texts: Friedrich Hölderlin
Lyrical soprano h-a“. Toneless play by the woodwind. Unusual bowstrokes and high natural flageolets in the deep strings.
Duration: 8' 00"
Hug & Co. Musikverlage
Limmatquai 28-30 CH-8001 Zürich
Kammerkonzert (1995-1996)
Reconnaissances in the sixteenth-tone area
Instrumentation: for string instruments and synthesizer (harpsichord, concert piano with three pedals, pianoforte, each set a sixteenth-tone apart, synthesizer Yamaha SY 99 programmed to sixteenth-tone, two violoncelli and two double-bass)