Julien-François Zbinden (1917-2021)

Julien-François Zbinden was born on November 11th, 1917 in Rolle (Vaud/Switzerland). After having studied piano, with secondary studies in voice and violin, he began in 1938 his musical career as a pianist in a jazz band, having had a passion for jazz at an early age. As a composer, he was self-taught at the beginning, so to speak. After 1947 he worked at the musical department of Radio Suisse Romande, rapidly moving to positions of great responsibility. President of the Swiss Association of Musicians (1973-1979) and, from 1987 to 1991, of SUISA (Swiss society for author’s rights), he has composed ceaselessly all his life.
His catalog of works includes over a hundred works (opera, oratorio, five symphonies, concertos, choral music, music for radio and film), of which many have received international recognition. Julien-François Zbinden is one of the Swiss contemporary composers who is played throughout the world. Many of his works have also been recorded.

Julien-François Zbinden
4 x 4 op. 96
for flute, trumpet, contrabass and piano
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 14'30
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2002

Julien-François Zbinden
Alligun op. 69
for string quartet
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 5'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1983

Julien-François Zbinden
Alternances op. 88
for flute, viola and harp
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 12'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1997

Julien-François Zbinden
Blüthner–Variationen op. 111
for piano
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 10'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2012

Julien-François Zbinden
Campana op. 85a
for mixed or women or men choir a cappella
- Text/Lyrics: Arthur Rimbaud
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 3'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1995

Julien-François Zbinden
Cathédrale op. 83
for organ
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 11'30
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1992

Julien-François Zbinden
Concerto op. 87
for clarinet and orchestra
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 20'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1996

Julien-François Zbinden
Concerto de Gibraltar
for piano solo and brass orchestra
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 6'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1959

Julien-François Zbinden
Double jeu op. 101
for 2 contrabasses
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 13'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2005

Julien-François Zbinden
Elégie op. 76, no 1
for string orchestra
- Duration: 7'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1987

Julien-François Zbinden
Empreintes op. 106
for mixed choir SATB a capella
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 7'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2010

Julien-François Zbinden
Episodes op. 95
for horn and orchestra
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 12'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2000

Julien-François Zbinden
Eternité op. 98
for women choir and organ
- Text/Lyrics: Edmond Kaiser
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 15'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2003/2004

Julien-François Zbinden
Gam(m)ineries op. 110
for piano
- Level: easy
- Duration: 11'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series, Bim Junior Series
- Composed: 2012

Julien-François Zbinden
Hexade op. 91
for guitar
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 10'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1999

Julien-François Zbinden
Il Paradiso op. 107
for mixed choir SATB a capella
- Text/Lyrics: Dante Alighieri
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 12'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2010

Julien-François Zbinden
Itinéraire avec M.A.R.C. op. 94
for piano
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 13'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2000

Julien-François Zbinden
Kalamala op. 86
for 2 harps
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 10'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1995

Julien-François Zbinden
Livia op. 92
for guitar
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 6'15
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1999

Best Seller
Julien-François Zbinden
Lord op. 93
motet for double mixed choir SATB
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 8'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1999

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Julien-François Zbinden
Marick op. 55
for flute in C and alto flute in G
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 5'30
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1976

Julien-François Zbinden
Méditation sur le nom de G.E.R.B.E.R. op. 90
for piano
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 4'30
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1998

Julien-François Zbinden
Mouvements op. 75
for violin, viola and cello
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 15'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1986

Julien-François Zbinden
Narbonne Festival op. 80
for brass quintet
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 16'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1991

Julien-François Zbinden
Poème op. 84
for viola and string orchestra
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 14’
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1994

Julien-François Zbinden
Quatuor No. 2 op. 108
for string quartet
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 29'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2011

Julien-François Zbinden
Seganona op. 109
Suite d’impressions for 2 clarinets and bass clarinet
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 7'15
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2012

Julien-François Zbinden
Septuor op. 8
for chamber ensemble
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 18'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1948

Julien-François Zbinden
Sinfonietta op. 81
for chamber orchestra
- Duration: 12'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1991/1992

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Julien-François Zbinden
Solissimo I op. 97
for flute solo
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 7'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2003

Julien-François Zbinden
Solissimo II op. 102
for viola solo
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 7'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2005

Julien-François Zbinden
Solissimo III op. 103
for clarinet solo
- Level: intermediate / advanced
- Duration: 9'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2007

Julien-François Zbinden
Solissimo IV op.104
for violin solo
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 7'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2008

Julien-François Zbinden
Solissimo V op. 105
for tuba solo
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 7'20
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2009

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Julien-François Zbinden
Sonate en trio op. 46
for viola, cello and piano
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 15'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1969

Julien-François Zbinden
Symphonie N° 3 op. 77
for orchestra
- Duration: 25'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1988/1989

Julien-François Zbinden
Symphonie N° 4 op. 82
for string orchestra
- Duration: 26'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1992

Julien-François Zbinden
Symphonie N° 5 op. 100
for symphony orchestra
- Duration: 32'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2006/2007

Julien-François Zbinden
Triade op. 78
for 2 trumpets and organ
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 14'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1990

Julien-François Zbinden
Triade op. 78
for 2 trumpets and string orchestra
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 14'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1990

Julien-François Zbinden
Triptyque op. 89
for trombone and string orchestra
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 12'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 1998

Julien-François Zbinden
Trois inventions à mi-voix op. 99
for piano
- Level: intermediate
- Duration: 10'30
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2004

Julien-François Zbinden
Tuba Concerto op. 112
for tuba and orchestra
- Level: advanced
- Duration: 15'
- Genre: contemporary
- Series: Swiss Composers Series
- Composed: 2014/2015