composer, organist
Biography:
Hans Eugen Frischknecht was born on May 8, 1939 in St. Gallen (Switzerland). After graduating as a piano teacher in Switzerland, he studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin. His teachers were a.o. Michael Schneider (organ), Boris Blacher (composition), Josef Rufer (12-tone) and Ernst Pepping (counterpoint). After graduating from university, he continued his studies in Paris with Olivier Messiaen (classe d'analyse at the Conservatoire national supérieur, first prize 1964), Gaston Litaize (organ) and Robert Veyron-Lacroix (harpsichord). In 1971 he won first prize at the International Organ Improvisation Competition in St. Albans (England).
From 1964 to 2002, Hans Eugen Frischknecht worked as an organist and choirmaster at the Johanneskirche in Bern, and from 1983 to 2003 as a lecturer in theory and improvisation at the Hochschule für Musik in Biel. He developed a rich concert life, which took him to various countries in Europe and America. He often gave concerts together with his wife, the organist Eliane Frischknecht.
His compositions include works for organ, piano, harpsichord, chamber music in various instrumentations, choir, symphony orchestra and wind band. They were performed in many countries and parts of the world, often interpreted by himself on the organ.
Albums:
