Looser, Rolf

Looser, Rolf, Swiss cellist, teacher, and composer; b. Niederscherli, near Bern, May 3, 1920. He studied at the Cons. and at the Univ. of Bern, his principal teachers being Sturzenegger (cello) and Moeschinger, Zulauf, and Kurth (theory). After taking teaching (1942) and concert (1944) diplomas, he pursued his training with Frank Martin (composition) and Franz Walter (cello) in Geneva, Burkhard (counterpoint) in Zürich, and Fournier (cello) in Paris. He was a cellist in the radio orch. of Studio Monte Ceneri and first cellist in the Utrecht Sym. Orch. (1946–49), and then taught at the Bern and Biel Conservatories. He subsequently taught at the Zürich Cons. and Academy of Music (from 1975).

Works

orch.: Suite (1944–49); Introduction et Dialogues for Cello and Chamber Orch. (1950); Konzertante Musik (1951); Musik for Strings and Organ (1953); Fantasie for Violin and Orch. (1958); Rhapsodia for Cello and Chamber Orch. (1961); Pezzo (1964); Alyssos, 5 pieces for Strings and Percussion (1967); Ponti (1971); Arche, symphonic essay (1986–87); Es Bilderbuech für d’Ohre for Small Orch. (1988–89). chamber:6 Stücke for Flute and Clarinet (1958); Variationenphantasie über ein eigenes Choralthema for Trumpet and Piano (1958); Rezitativ und Hymnus for Violin (1960); 4 Stücke for Oboe and Harpsichord (1962); Fantasia a quattro for String Quartet (1965); Dialog for Violin and Organ (1968); Monologue, Gestes et Danse for Cello (1976); Partita à tre for 2 Trumpets, Organ, and Percussion (1979–80); Danza for Dancer and Cello (1982); 5 kurze Szenen for Violin and Oboe (1984); Fantasia à tre for 3 Flutes (1985); 3 Stücke for Clarinet and Cello (1987); Stück for Flute, Basset Horn, and Organ (1989); Monochromie for 5 Clarinets (1991–92); organ music. vocal: Choral pieces; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire