Jacques Cerf was born in Lausanne, Switzerland and began learning piano with his father (a student of José Iturbi) at the age of three; he wrote small pieces for piano from the age of six. In 1948 he became a student of Piero Coppola who instructed him in composing and conducting. In 1950 he recorded two of his compositions together with a selection of musicians from the 'Orchestre National de Paris' for the 'Pathé Marconi' record company. In 1961 he won the 'Concours International de Guitare de Radio France' with 'Climat', in 1965 with 'Muances', 1971 with his 'Concerto Capriccioso', in 1973 with 'Prés de l'âtre', in 1975 with 'Burlesque' and in 1977 with 'Epitaphe'. In 1970 J. Iturbi performed the world premiere of his work 'Angoisse' in Bridgeport (USA). Zagreb television produced two of his ballets in 1971: 'l' autre' and 'Contrastes'. In 1977 the guitarist W. Feybli together with the Radio Basel Orchestra under the direction of Francis Travis recorded his 'Concerto Capriccioso'. On the 22nd of June 1991 the 'Quatuor de Guitares de Versailles' performed his piece 'Espoir' which was recorded onto CD in 1992. On the 1st of April 2000 the Concert Guitar Trio performed the world premiere of 'Trisla' in Solothurn, Switzerland.
His work has been performed in the following countries: Germany, England, Argentina, Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Spain, Italy, Japan, Bulgaria, USA and Switzerland.
He is a member of the Swiss Music Association, the SUISA and the 'Centre International d'Echanges Culturels'.
Interpreters of his work include Roberto Aussel, H. Bruhn, Pierre Cerf, Piero Coppola, Aliero Diaz, Charles Dobler, the duo D. Erni / W. Giger, Walter Feybli, André Girard, Helmut Imig, JoséIturbi, the duo Ch. Jaeggin / Ch. Studer, Siegfrid Koehler, Anna Loro, the quartet Martinez-Zarate / Boris Mersson / Vladimir Mikulka / Barbara Polacek, the duo Pomponio Zarate / Alberto Ponce, Francis Travis, the duo S. Takahama / Ch. Jaeggin, the duo P. Vasanen / R. Holmberg, José de Udaeta, the 'Quatuor de Guitares de Versailles', Hanni Widmer and the Concert Guitar Trio D. Erni / W. Feybli / Daniel Zimmermann, the duo M. Renno Boccali / D. Mariotti, the Radio France Orchestra, the Orchester National de Paris, Radio Lausanne Orchestra, Radio Basel Orchestra, the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra, the Saarbrücken Orchestra, the Bielefeld Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Radio and Television Zagreb. Choreography by Hrvoje Jezic.
Elenco delle opere
2 pièces pour ténor et piano, op. 1 (1947)
Testo: Victor Hugo, Jacques Cerf
1. Nuits de juin (V. Hugo) 2. Méditation (J. Cerf).
Durata: 5' 00" Manuscritto
Impromptu dramatique, op. 4 (1948)
Strumentazione: pour violon et orchestre à cordes avec harpe
Durata: 4' 00" Manuscritto
Rêve de mai, op. 5 (1948)
Strumentazione: pour ténor et piano
Testo: Anonymus
Poème inconnu XVème siècle.
Durata: 3' 00" Manuscritto
Prélude, fugue et choral, op. 9 (1950)
Strumentazione: pour orchestre à cordes
Durata: 6' 30" Manuscritto
Nocturne, op. 10 (1950)
Strumentazione: pour petit orchestre (fl, c.a. - hpe, cél - cordes: 2,2,2,2)
Durata: 3' 00" Manuscritto
Welf, castellan d'Osbor, op. 11 (1950)
Opéra en 1 acte
Testo: Victor Hugo
Livret de Victor Hugo.
Manuscritto
L'exil, op. 12 (1950)
Strumentazione: pour quatuor à cordes
Durata: 6' 00" Manuscritto
Chanson, op. 13 (1950)
Strumentazione: pour flûte et piano
Durata: 30' 00" Manuscritto
Clarinettina, op. 14 (1950)
Strumentazione: pour clarinette et petit orchestre (fl - cor, trp - cordes)
Durata: 6' 30" Manuscritto
L'enfance, op. 16 (1950)
Strumentazione: pour ténor et piano
Testo: Anonymus
Poème d'Abadie (XVII).
Durata: 3' 00" Manuscritto
Pianenito, op. 20 (1951)
Strumentazione: pour piano, hautbois et orchestre à cordes