2. 10. 1957 – 25. 12. 2009

Dölf Kessler was born on October 2, 1957 in Basel. He learned from childhood on playing the vibraphone, flute and piano. During his high school years (type M) he enjoyed the reputation of a regional Emerson in north-western Switzerland because of his several gym concerts.

He studied at the Conservatory in Basel and graduated in composition and piano. In addition to his artistic work as a freelance musician, he taught at the Music School of Sissach.

Over time, he became familiar with different styles: his spectrum ranged from minstrelsy to classical music, boogie woogie to ragtime, hard bop to rock as well as contemporary classical compositions to "modern jazz". For this his output was as varied as just a short list of his compositional work already may show:

In the eighties he got primarily known with his film settings, including some for Ticino TV (among others a “Dürrenmatt Portrait”) and the repeatedly internationally broadcasted Van Gogh film. He also got a First Prize in an international cartoon contest in Tokyo. In this time fell his most important jazz works, such as the Jazz Suite I (83) and II (86), world premiered at the EGJ Atlantis in Basel on 13 November. But even with his works of modern classical music for chamber and symphony orchestras he caused always some stir in professional circles:

"Suite Helvetique" (premiered in 1989 in St. Martin's Church, Basel, Polish Premiere under the direction of Alex Eckert 1991)

"Suite pour les Enfants" (premiered in Gdansk, Poland, 1990, another performance with the Lublin Philharmonic, 1991, both under the direction of Alex Eckert)

"Van Gogh - Tableaux" (commissioned and premiered in Gelterkinden by its orchestra, Polish Premiere in Lublin in 1991 under the direction of Alex Eckert)

"Homage to Bach" (double Premiere with CD recording in Bern and Solothurn)

His work "Percussion Concerto" was premiered in Bern and recorded on CD. In between, CDs, tapes and singles appeared again and again with own pieces in the range from Classics to Rockpop under his pseudonym "Helios". Commissioned works such as "Boogie Woogie" for a fifteen-member accordion ensemble give prove of the endless musical versatility of Kessler. Unfortunately Dölf Kessler died unexpectedly at Christmas 2009. He left behind a rich and varied work, which is about to fall into oblivion. Thus, we should preserve his legacy alive and bring it back to the public because it is a unique testimony of Swiss composer creation.

For this show commitment:

Alex Eckert and Walter Markl

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