Jean Balissat (1936-2007)
Jean Balissat was born in 1936 in Lausanne (Switzerland), and was drawn straight away to composing and conducting. He studied harmony and counterpoint in Lausanne, before taking composition, orchestration and conducting in Geneva. In order to gain a better understanding of the orchestra, he also studied horn and percussion.
As orchestral director and bandmaster, he has conducted numerous ensembles in Switzerland. Jean Balissat has composed works for orchestra, chamber music groups, percussion, choir, wind band, brass band and solo instruments. Notably, he composed the score for the Fête des Vignerons (Festival of Wine Growers) which was celebrated in Vevey in 1977.
He taught composition, orchestration and musical analysis for many years in the Lausanne and Geneva Conservatories. From 1986 to 1990 he was president of the Association of Swiss Musicians and, from 1991 to 2004, of the SUISA Foundation for Music.
Jean Balissat died in september 2007
Jean Balissat
7 Péchés capitaux
for chamber ensemble
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 12'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1994
Jean Balissat
Cantabile
for clarinet and strings
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 12'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1991
Jean Balissat
Cantique des créatures
de St. François d’Assise for soprano voice and flute
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 4'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1972
Jean Balissat
Capriccio
for euphonium and chamber orchestra
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 14'30
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2005
Jean Balissat
Concerto
for violin and orchestra
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 30'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1989
Jean Balissat
Dialogue
for bassoon solo
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 4'30
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1984
Jean Balissat
Elegia notturna
per piccola orchestra for chamber orchestra
- Duration: 6'30
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1983
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Jean Balissat
Kaléidoscope
for trumpet and percussion
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 7'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1996
Jean Balissat
L’or perdu
for string quartet and narrator (ad lib.)
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 19' (with narrator: 27')
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1995
Jean Balissat
Promenade avec J.J. Rousseau
for string orchestra
- Duration: 13'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2000
Jean Balissat
Quatuor à cordes n° 1
for string quartet
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 17'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1958/2003
Jean Balissat
Rückblick
for violin and orchestra
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 13'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1980
Jean Balissat
Sinfonietta
for string orchestra
- Duration: 21'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1960
Jean Balissat
Statterostrob
for piano
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 8'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1983
Jean Balissat
Träumerei
for string orchestra
- Duration: 6'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2004
Jean Balissat
Variations concertantes
for 3 percussions and chamber orchestra
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 15'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1969