THE LIVING COMPOSERS PROJECT  

Jean-Luc Darbellay

(b. 2 July 1946, Bern).

Swiss composer of mostly orchestral, chamber and vocal works that have been performed throughout the world; he is also active as a conductor.

Mr. Darbellay studied clarinet at the Musikschule Konservatorium Bern and composition with Cristóbal Halffter and Dimitri Terzakis. He then attended masterclasses with Heinz Holliger and Klaus Huber in Lucerne, as well as with Edison Denisov. He attended seminars with Pierre Boulez in Paris and classes in conducting with Franco Ferrara in Bern, with whom he also studied privately.

Among his honours are the Publikumspreis in the jubilee competition of the Berner Symphonieorchester (2002, for Ondes) and the title Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the government of France (2006). His music has represented Switzerland at the UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers several times, most recently in 2001, for Oyama, as well as six times at the ISCM World Music Days (1999, Bucharest/Chișinău; 2000, Luxembourg; 2002, Hong Kong; 2004, Switzerland; 2007, Hong Kong; 2011, Zagreb).

As a conductor, he has toured throughout Europe and in Canada, China, Malaysia, South Korea, and the USA. He founded the LUDUS Ensemble for contemporary music in Bern in 1978 and has served as its artistic director and principal conductor since 1978. He later founded the Spectrum Ensemble in Russia and the Ensemble Orion in Switzerland.

He is also active in other positions. He worked as a doctor in general practice from 1980–2012. He co-founded the group of composers Groupe Lacroix in 1993. He served as an assistant to Edison Denisov in 1993. He served as president of the Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Neue Musik from 1994–2007 and organised the ISCM World Music Days in Switzerland in 2004.

He is married to the clarinettist Elsbeth Darbellay. Their son Olivier Darbellay is a cellist and French hornist and their daughter Noëlle-Anne Darbellay is a violinist.

His primary publisher is Ricordi München.

CONTACT INFORMATION

E-mail address: jld@jean-luc-darbellay.ch

Website: http://www.jean-luc-darbellay.ch/

SELECT LIST OF WORKS

STAGE:

C'Est un peu d'eau qui nous sépare (chamber opera, libretto by Alain Rochat), soprano, baritone, speakers, mixed chorus, 2 flutes (1st + piccolo, 2nd + alto flute), 3 basset horns (all + clarinet), alto saxophone (+ soprano saxophone), baritone saxophone, 2 French horns, cello, 5-string double bass, piano, 2 percussion, 1989

ORCHESTRAL:

Concerto, cello, small orchestra (13 players), 1989

Pranam III, cello, small orchestra (2 flutes, bass clarinet, French horn, strings), 1992, revised 2007

Élégie, 1994

Orion, 1994

Incanto, French horn, orchestra, 1995

Pranam IV, cello, orchestra, 1995

Espaces, French horn, string orchestra, 1995 (version of chamber work)

Chandigarh, small orchestra (17 players), 1996

Suite für Brassband, brass band, 1998

Ondes fugitives, 1999

Oyama, large orchestra, 2001, revised 2007, 2009

Mégalithe, French horn, small orchestra (12 players), 2001

A Quattro, 4 French horns, orchestra, 2002

Nocturne, basset horn, alto saxophone, French horn, string orchestra, 2002 (version of chamber work)

Ondes, large orchestra, 2002

Aurora, 2002

Alea, violin, orchestra, 2003

Chant d'adieux, string orchestra, 2004 (version of chamber work)

Ein Garten für Orpheus, basset horn, French horn, string orchestra, 2004 (version of chamber work; also version for basset horn, French horn, 9 strings, 2006)

Échos (dialogue), French horn, large orchestra (15 winds, 18 brass, 2 harps, piano, timpani, 5 percussion, strings), 2005

Alizé (concerto), bass clarinet (+ contrabass clarinet), orchestra/large orchestra, 2005

Escales, French horn, string orchestra, 2006 (also version for 2 percussion, string orchestra, 2006)

Tschara (concerto), flute, small orchestra/orchestra (2 oboes, clarinet, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons [2nd + contrabassoon], 2 French horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, percussion, strings), 2007

MégalitheLutèce, French horn, small orchestra (14 players), 2007

Zéphyr, A-clarinet, orchestra, 2007

Mana, French horn, orchestra, 2008–09

Noori, French horn, violin, string orchestra, 2011

Cosmos, percussion, orchestra, 2011

Voile diaphane, string orchestra, 2012

CHAMBER MUSIC:

Glanum, 3 basset horns, 1981

Vestiges, bassoon, 1982

Amphores, clarinet, harp, 1983

Espaces, basset horn/French horn, 1984 (also version for French horn, string orchestra)

Plages, English horn/alto saxophone, 1985 (also version for heckelphone, 2008)

Miroir, 3 basset horns, 1988

Quatuor, 4 saxophones, 1988

EDESHommage à E(dison) D(eni)S(sov), 2 flutes, clarinet, 1989

la–, clarinet, violin, cello, 2 tuning forks, 1989

A, clarinet, violin, cello, 2 tuning forks, 1989

Gerhard, English horn, 1990

Octuor à vent, 2 oboes, clarinet, basset horn, 2 bassoons, 2 French horns, 1991

Andromède, harp, guitar, vibraphone, 1991

Interférences, flute, oboe, French horn, 1991

Double, alto saxophone, piano, 1992

Spectrum, natural horn, 1993

Cantus, French horn, organ, 1993

Oreade, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, 1993

à la recherche..., flute (+ alto flute), oboe (+ English horn), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), violin, viola, cello, double bass, percussion, 4 tuning forks, 1994 (also version for flute [+ alto flute], clarinet [+ bass clarinet], violin, cello, piano, percussion, 1994)

Itinéraires, 2 cellos, 1994

IntroduzioneTranquilloCon brio, trumpet, 1994

Images perdues, cello, piano, 1995

Appels, 2 French horns, 1995

Signal, 2 French horns, 1995

Écumes, string quartet, 1996

Néva (2. Streichquartett), string quartet, 1996

Ein Garten für Orpheus, basset horn, French horn, string quartet, 1996 (also versions for basset horn, French horn, string orchestra; basset horn, French horn, 9 strings)

Empreintes, violin, cello, piano, 1996 (also version for alto saxophone, cello, accordion, 2008)

Flamboyant, bass clarinet, saxophone, piano, 1996

Pirla, flute, oboe, piano, 1996

Solo, cello, 1997

Accents, alto saxophone, French horn, 1997

Valère, violin, piano, 1997

Sospeso, A-clarinet, string quartet, 1997

A Tre, oboe, violin, piano, 1997 (also version for soprano saxophone, violin, piano, 1999)

Images fugitives, violin, piano, 1997

Luce, alto saxophone, cello, 1997

Quartetto, oboe, bassoon, guitar, viola, 1997

Venezianisches Zwischenspiel, clarinet, basset horn, violin, 1997

Sozusagen, oboe (+ English horn), bassoon, guitar, viola, 1997

Call, 2 French horns, 2 natural horns, piano, 1998

Chant d'adieux, clarinet, basset horn, 1998 (also versions for violin, viola, 2000; string orchestra; violin, cello, 2006; 2 cellos, 2007; string quartet, 2009)

Instants, violin/cello, viola/double bass, 1998

Lumières, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, 1998

Mobile, 2 flutes, 2 violins, piano, 1998

Odes brèves, saxophone, violin, cello, 1998

Arcano, clarinet, basset horn, French horn, violin, cello, 1998

Soli, French horn, cello, 1998

Incident Room (text by Ken Edwards), violin (+ voice), 1998

Shadows, 5 percussion, 1998–99

Trajectoires, 12 winds, double bass, 1999

Kantha Bopha, cello, ensemble (7 or more cellos), 1999

À Deux, basset horn/French horn, viola, 1999 (also version for clarinet, basset horn, 2012)

GestesEffleurements, violin, viola, cello, 1999

Evocations, harp, violin, cello, 1999

Dolmar, bass clarinet, cello, piano, 2000

Lux, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, trombone, violin, viola, cello, accordion, percussion, 2000

Aulos, oboe (+ piccolo oboe), English horn, heckelphone, 2000

Nova, guitar, violin, 2000

Espaces magiques, natural horn, piano, 2001

Azur, 4 French horns, 2001

Flash, bass clarinet, 2001

Yobu, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, 2001

Dos Olivos (text by David Künzler; violinist must be female), violin (+ voice), viola (+ voice), 2001

Questions pour un millénaire, violin (+ voice), viola (+ voice), 2001

Mania, flute, bass clarinet (+ contrabass clarinet), French horn, violin, cello, piano, percussion, 2001

Nocturne, basset horn, alto saxophone, French horn, string quartet, 2002 (also version for basset horn, alto saxophone, French horn, string orchestra)

Kugo, 2 kugo (harps from Japan), 2 konghou (harps from China), 2 clàrsach (harps from the UK), 2 harps, 2002

Alani, French horn, violin, piano, 2003

Lo Spirito assoluto, flute, violin, piano, 2003

B-A-C-H, violin, 2003 (also versions for 2 percussion, 2007; viola, 2008, revised 2011; bassoon, 2008, revised 2012)

Dix Aphorismes, 2 alto saxophones, 2003

'S' für Siegfried Palm, cello, 2003

Regarde (first violinist from string quartet also speaks text by Rémy Zaugg), basset horn, alto saxophone, French horn, string quartet, 2003

Postojna, flute, alto flute, bass clarinet, trombone, viola, cello, piano, percussion, 2004

Où irai-je, qui répondra, marimba, tam-tam, 2004

Nocturne, violin, cello, piano, 2004

Concerto discreto, basset horn, French horn, string quartet, 2005

3 Könige, A-clarinet, basset horn, violin, 2005

Reflets (hommage à Olivier Messiaen), A-clarinet, violin, cello, piano, 2005

Al Furioso, piano, percussion, 2005

Schwarzwasser, A-clarinet, basset horn, violin, viola, 2005, revised 2006

Vagues, flute, bass clarinet, bassoon, French horn, harp, violin, viola, cello, percussion, 2006

Labyrinth, 2 pianos, 2 percussion, 2006

Miroirs, French horn, violin, cello, piano, 2006

Voile, flute, 2007

Ori, French horn, violin, 2007

Es war ein Kind, das wollte nie (violinist must be female; violinist also speaks text by Guy Krneta, after Paul Klee), French horn, violin, ensemble (flute, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet, tuba, mandolin, violin, viola, double bass, piano, accordion), 2007 (version of choral work; also version [violinist must be female; violinist also speaks text by Guy Krneta, after Paul Klee] for violin, 2008)

Vif, 4 bassoons, 2008

Violon (violinist must be female; violinist also sings and speaks text by Jean Métellus), violin, 2008

Sadia (violinist must be female; violinist also sings and speaks text by Béatrice Libert), violin, 2008

Messages, violin, viola, 2008 (version of no. 1 and no. 3 of work for piano)

Message oublié, basset horn, 2008 (version of work for piano)

Asia, flute (+ alto flute), harp, viola, 2008

Vela, French horn, violin, organ, 2009

Séquences, 4 saxophones, 2009

Sentences, clarinet, 2009 (also version for bass clarinet, 2012)

Miniaturen, flute (+ alto flute), bass clarinet, violin, cello, double bass, piano, 2009

Luce e Colore, alto saxophone, 2009 (also version for viola, 2011)

Esquisses, violin, viola, 2009

Dranse, flute, violin, viola, cello, 2009

Couleurs, string quartet, 2009

Acqua (Ode au Rhône), violin, cello, piano, 2009

Six Aphorismes, alto saxophone, Ondes Martenot, 2009

L'Aar, bass clarinet, French horn, violin, cello, piano, percussion, 2009

Omaggio a Giorgio, oboe, bassoon, piano, 2010

Waves, flute, alto flute, 2011

Vivo, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, 2011

Loons, clarinet, basset horn, violin, viola, 2011

Ursle (violinist must be female; violinist also speaks text by Guy Krneta), violin, 2012

Avec feu et fluidité, violin, piano, 2012

Avec ferveur et virtuosité, violin, piano, 2012

Avec énergie et agilité, violin, piano, 2012

Avec émotion et frénésie, violin, piano, 2012

Avec élégance et fantaisie, violin, piano, 2012

Avec élan, violin, piano, 2012

Avec douceur et délicatesse, violin, 2012 (also version for alto saxophone, 2012)

Avec calme et sérénité, violin, piano, 2012

Arboroso, prepared French horn, violin (with funnel), 2012

CHORAL:

Aube imaginaire (text by Alain Rochat), mixed chorus, 1994

Ground II (text by Clayton Eshleman), soprano, 8 mixed voices, 2 pianos, 1997

Requiem, soprano, alto, tenor, bass, 8–12 mixed voices, large orchestra, 2005, revised 2009–10

Es war ein Kind, das wollte nie (violinist must be female; violinist also acts, sings and speaks text by Guy Krneta, after Paul Klee), mixed chorus, French horn, violin, 2006 (also versions for French horn, violin, ensemble [flute, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet, tuba, mandolin, violin, viola, double bass, piano, accordion]; also version [violinist must be female; violinist also speaks text by Guy Krneta, after Paul Klee] for violin, 2008)

Éternel, children's chorus, 3 cellos, 2007

VOCAL:

Sept Poèmes romands, mezzo-soprano, flute, clarinet, basset horn, 1986 (also versions for mezzo-soprano, 2 clarinets, basset horn, 1986; mezzo-soprano, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, 2012)

Et vous pleurez (text by Claude Darbellay), mezzo-soprano, clarinet, basset horn, 1997

Ground I (text by Clayton Eshleman), speaker, alto saxophone, 1997

Kunigundulakonfiguration (text by Jean Arp), soprano, piano, 1999

Poèmes de l'ombre (text by José-Flore Tappy), mezzo-soprano, basset horn, violin, 2003

Été gelé, soprano, basset horn, cello, 2003

Espace, male speaker, basset horn, violin, cello, 2004

Delphes des trois fois (text by Sylviane Dupuis), soprano, bass clarinet, French horn, cello, percussion, 2004

Par transparence (text by Françoise Han), male speaker, basset horn, violin, viola, 2005

Hale Bopp (text by David Künzler), male speaker, basset horn, violin, viola, 2005

étoile (text by Lajos Major-Zala), male speaker, basset horn, violin, viola, 2005

Observatory (text by Sarah Day), male speaker, alto saxophone, cello, piano, 2006

D'Une noire étoile (text by François Debluë), medium voice–speaker, alto saxophone, cello, piano, 2006

Cap Cod (text by Samuel Florin), speaker, alto saxophone, 2007

Au Matin (text by Éric Brogniet), speaker, alto saxophone, 2007

Ouest (text by John Mateer), male speaker, basset horn, 2009

L'Autre même (text by Jacques Rancourt), male speaker, basset horn, 2009

Hommage à Haydn, voice, violin, 2009 (may be performed by one person)

Dernière lettre à Théo (text by Metin Arditi), baritone, large orchestra, 2009–10

Un Jour encore (text by Jean-Luc Wauthier), voice, violin, 2010 (may be performed by one person)

Plus haut que l'air, male speaker, viola, cello, double bass, 2010

Pierres enfouies, male speaker, viola, cello, double bass, 2010

L'Usure l'étoile, male speaker, viola, cello, double bass, 2010

Le Passage d'une barque (text by Jean Brabec), male speaker, saxophone, 2010

Einst, mezzo-soprano, bassoon, French horn, violin, 2010 (also versions for mezzo-soprano, English horn, piano, 2010; voice, violin, 2011 [may be performed by one person])

Soliloquaubordunlac (text by Claude Held), male speaker, violin, 2011

Paulette (monologue scénique, text by Guy Krneta [translated by Camille Luscher]), voice, violin, 2011 (may be performed by one person)

Note sur le temps personnel et cosmique (text by Gabrielle Althen), male speaker, violin, 2011

Mater dolorosa (text by François Debluë), male speaker, alto saxophone, violin, piano, 2011

La Voix de M. Temple (text by Shizue Ogawa), male speaker, violin, 2011

Voyageur d'encre (text by Cécile Oumhani), female speaker, basset horn, 2012

Eurydice (text by Évelyne Morin), female speaker, basset horn, 2012

PIANO:

Message oublié, 1997 (also version for basset horn)

Messages, 2000 (also version of no. 1 and no. 3 for violin, viola)

Miroir (hommage à Henri Dutilleux), 2007

Ciel étoilé, 2008

SCORE FOR SILENT FILM:

Vormittagsspuk, flute, clarinet, alto saxophone (+ baritone saxophone), violin, cello, double bass, piano, percussion, 1991 (for Vormittagsspuk by Hans Richter)