(b. 15 September 1939, Zürich).
Swiss composer of mostly orchestral, chamber, choral, and vocal works that have been performed throughout the world.
Mr. Wettstein studied at the Musikschule Konservatorium Zürich and the Universität Zürich and then at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold from 1961–65, where he studied composition with Rudolf Kelterborn, conducting with Martin Stephani, music theory with Giselher Klebe, recording techniques with Erich Thienhaus, and violin with Alexander Schaichet. He attended courses in Darmstadt, Hilversum, New York, and Paris.
He taught conducting and music theory at the Musikschule Konservatorium Zürich from 1965–76 and served as director of the career division of the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste in Zürich from 1976–78. He taught at the Universität Zürich from 1978–2001 and served as director of the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste from 1999–2003.
He is the father of the composer Martin Wettstein.
His publisher is Musikhaus Jecklin & Co.
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
STAGE:
Concerto grosso, female dancer, violin, ensemble (flute [+ alto flute], clarinet, cello, piano, percussion), 1989
Viriditas (play, text compiled by the composer), 9 mixed voices, dance troupe, small orchestra (14 players), 1990
Seifenblasen (theatre piece; all players speak text by Silvia Gillardon), piano (+ wooden percussion) (3 players), 1993
ORCHESTRAL:
Notturno, string orchestra, 1969–71
Zwei Szenen, large orchestra (12 winds, 11 brass, harp, piano [+ celesta], 2 percussion, strings), 1973–74
Konzert, 18 or more strings, 1974–75
Alkezir, orchestra (8 winds, 7 brass, harp, percussion, strings), 1981
Suono del Ceresio, large orchestra (11 winds, 10 brass, 2 harps, 3 percussion, strings), 1984
Aphoriphone, clown ad libitum, 12 strings, 1982–86
Musica concertante, oboe, violin, harpsichord, string orchestra, 1986
Concerto Violinissimo, violin, orchestra (8 winds, 5 brass, 2 percussion, strings), 1991–92
Rhapsodie, symphonic band, 1992
Kaleidos, 2 percussion, 16 strings, 1993
Ritornelli, small orchestra (4 winds, 4 brass, harp, piano, 1/2 percussion, strings), 1995 (section of work Kreuzende Wege, a collaboration with Werner Bärtschi, Ulrich Gasser, Max E. Keller, Martin Sigrist; may be performed separately)
Begegnung, cello, large orchestra (12 winds, 11 brass, strings), 1997
Blaue Stunde, 21 strings, 1997–98
Hesli-Musik, 5 clarinets, string orchestra, 1999 (section of Von Kissen und Küssen in Chüesenacht; may be performed separately)
Pierre de lune, alto saxophone, 21 strings, 2000
Image mystérieuse, large orchestra (12 winds, 11 brass, harp, celesta, 4 percussion, strings), 2002–03
Durch Raum und Zeit, recorder/flute, oboe, trumpet, violin, small orchestra (harpsichord, 15 strings), 2004
CHAMBER MUSIC:
Kammermusik, flute, clarinet, 2 violins, viola, cello, 1964
Kammermusik, oboe, viola, harpsichord, 1966–68
Metamorphosen, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 1969
Gravitation, clarinet, bassoon, harp, violin, cello, 1969–70
Abraxas, flute, cello, piano, 1970–71
Sieben Miniaturen, transverse flute, harpsichord, 1974
Tönungen, flute, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, 1976
Anrufungen, clarinet, organ, 1976–77
Esquisses, violin, 1976–77
Legende, flute, clarinet, piano, 1977
Musica riservata, 2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, 1979
Skizzen, guitar, 1981 (also longer version as Skizzen für Flöte und Duettino für Flöte und Gitarre, flute, guitar, 1988)
Fadensonnen, violin, viola, cello, 1985
Air dans l'aube, flute, 1987
Janus, string quartet, 1987
Starowy, clarinet, alto saxophone, piano, 1987
Canto trasognato, cello, piano, 1988
Arkadische Spielereien, pan flute, any keyboard instrument, 1989
Sieben Märchenbilder, flute, guitar, viola, 1989
Capriccio (Ré-fa + Es-C-H), flute (+ piccolo), double bass, 1990
Puzzle-Duo, 2 violins, 1990
Une Liaison, clarinet, piano, 1992
Fünf plus drei, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, 1994–95
Nachtstück, clarinet, piano, 1996
(T)raummusik I, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, spatial ensemble (French horn, trumpet, trombone), 1996
Das Narrenspiel (13 Tarrot-Karten), violin, piano, 1997
Eine E-Musik, flute (+ alto flute), harpsichord, 1998
Rotondo, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, viola, double bass, piano, accordion, percussion, 1998–99 (collaboration with Werner Bärtschi, Ulrich Gasser, Max E. Keller, Martin Sigrist)
Alla Polacca, violin, 1999 (section of Von Kissen und Küssen in Chüesenacht; may be performed separately)
Inannas Abstieg in die Unterwelt, flute, violin, 2 violas, cello, 2000
Sechs Miniaturen, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 2001–02
Bassiade, double bass, 2004
Flechtwerk, 3 basset horns, 2005
Suchen – Finden, violin, cello, piano, 2005
Interpunctum zum 'Musikalischen Opfer' von J. S. Bach, flute, violin, cello, organ, 2010 (also version for flute, harp, violin, cello, 2014)
Zwiegetön, trumpet, piano/organ, 2012
CHORAL:
Gitanjali (cantata, text by Rabindranath Tagore [translated by Gabriele Maria Muncker, Adam Haas]), mixed chorus, organ, 1971–72
Bellica pax, mixed chorus, 1978
Acht nostalgische Madrigaletti (text by Mascha Kaléko), mixed chorus, 1986
Elegie (cantata, text by Wolfdietrich Schnurre), 16–24 mixed voices, 2 flutes (1st + piccolo, 2nd + alto flute), oboe, English horn, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, percussion, 1988
Giro immortale (Totentanz 1995) (texts by Dante Alighieri, Giuseppe Ungaretti), baritone, female speaker, male speaker, mixed chorus, mime ad libitum, violin, ensemble (clarinet [+ E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet], 2 violins, viola, 2 cellos, piano 4 hands, 2 percussion), 1994
Von Kissen und Küssen in Chüesenacht, 4 soloists, 4 choruses, 5 clarinets, 2 brass ensembles, string orchestra, 1999 (two sections may be performed separately: Alla Polacca; Hesli-Musik)
Schattenaug (text by Jannis Zinniker), mixed chorus, 3 clarinets, 2010
Mendrisch (Szene), baritone, mixed chorus, Büchel (natural horn from Switzerland), alphorn, 2 Alpophone (wind instruments from Switzerland), zither, 2014
Über Schmetterlinge und Wolken, soprano, baritone, mixed chorus, 2 violins, viola, cello, 2017
VOCAL:
Gelöstes Haar (cantata, text by Manfred Hausmann), alto, 2 violins, viola, cello, 1967
Sequenz zu 'Missa in festo Pentecostes', soprano, clarinet, viola, organ, 1985 (section of Propriumsteile der Pfingstmesse, a collaboration with Gerald Bennett, Josef Haselbach, Heinz Holliger, Hans Ulrich Lehmann, Jacques Wildberger; may be performed separately)
Sehnsucht (text by Katharina Sallenbach), bass-baritone, piano, 1986
Die Göttin (text by Robert Walser), male voice, piano, 2001
Vier Gesänge (text by Hans Magnus Enzensberger), baritone, piano, 2003
Wozu weiter? (8 Lieder, text by Kurt Marti), soprano, piano, 2007
Psalm (text by Paul Celan), baritone, bass clarinet, trumpet, organ, 2008
Die Glocke von San Nicolás in Valencia (Szene, text by Hugo Loetscher), speaker, B-flat trumpet (with piano), 2009
Ping-Pong, speaker, trumpet, violin, cello, piano, 2011 (collaboration with Martin Wettstein)
Traumbilder (7 Haikus) (text by Peter Benary), soprano, baritone, 2 violins, viola, cello, 2013
Sankt Fridolins Geist, soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor saxophone, harpsichord, 2014
Weit in den Klang der Nacht hinein ....., 3 female voices, violin, cello, ensemble (4 violins, 3 violas, 2 cellos, double bass), 2018
PIANO:
Quatre Moments Musicaux, 1971
Pulsationen, 1984
Sieben Bilder aus dem alten Buch, 1986 (collaboration with painter Elisabeth Wettstein-Wille)
Quintatön, 1986
Topas, clavier à lumières, 2002
Fünf Facetten, 2010
ORGAN:
Fantasie, 1962–63
Vor- und Nachspiel, 1978–79
Toccata (Mi-H – F-Ré), 1984–85
DISCOGRAPHY
Concerto Violinissimo. Katharina Schamböck, violin; Vytautas Viržonis/Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra (Studio A: SACD 010294, 1994)
Rotondo. Christian Hommel/Ensemble Aventure (Schweizerischer Tonkünstlerverein: STV/ASM 016, 2002)
Sequenz zu 'Missa in festo Pentecostes'. (Edition Jecklin: JD 617-2)
Sehnsucht. (Edition Jecklin: JS 270/71-2)
Janus. (Edition Jecklin: JS 283-2)