Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2009 Ulrich Gasser: His Life, His Compositions for Solo Flute and His Impact on the Flute Community Deanna Bertsche Hamm Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC ULRICH GASSER: HIS LIFE, HIS COMPOSITIONS FOR SOLO FLUTE AND HIS IMPACT ON THE FLUTE COMMUNITY By DEANNA BERTSCHE HAMM A Treatise submitted to the College of Music in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Music Degree Awarded: Spring Semester, 2009 The members of the Committee approve the Treatise of Deanna Bertsche Hamm on October 29, 2008. ________________________ Patrick Meighan Professor Directing Treatise ________________________ Eva Amsler Committee Member ________________________ Deborah Bish Committee Member ________________________ Michael Buchler Outside Committee Member The Graduate School has verified and approved the above named committee members. ii I would like to dedicate this work to my mother, Debera Bertsche (1947–2005). She was extremely supportive and devoted to each of her children’s endeavors and accomplishments. Her love and inspiration have motivated me every day. Thanks Mom! iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am sincerely grateful to Ulrich and Eva Gasser for their hospitality and delicious fondue! Ulrich Gasser was dedicated to the interview process and provided me with the materials necessary for my research. Translator, Eva Reith, is commended for her energy, time, and generosity during the interview process. Many thanks to my committee: Professor Patrick Meighan, Professor Eva Amsler, Dr. Deborah Bish, and Dr. Michael Buchler. Special thanks to Professor Meighan for his patience, direction, and time. I am especially grateful to Professor Amsler for her ideas, encouragement, and many years of guidance. I truly appreciate the enormous support of my family and friends; with special thanks to my father (David Bertsche), Staci Spring, Christina Guenther-Scott, Pat Tobergte, Bernie Tobergte, Cathy Kammer, and Anne Fitzpatrick. Thank you to all of the participants in the questionnaire. I did a great deal of my writing at Kôfē Haus in Fernandina Beach, Florida. I wanted to acknowledge them for providing a great atmosphere and excellent coffee! My greatest source of inspiration and support has been my husband, Randy Hamm. Without his motivating words and patience, this treatise would not have been possible. I am grateful for his love and encouragement. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures ................................................................................................................ ...vii List of Musical Examples.................................................................................................viii Abstract ....................................................................................................................... .......ix INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................1 1. ULRICH GASSER: BIOGRAPHY ................................................................................3 Life in Switzerland .....................................................................................................3 Music Education.........................................................................................................8 Professional Life.......................................................................................................12 Compositional Style: Inspiration and Craftsmanship...............................................15 2. SELECTED FLUTE COMPOSITIONS .......................................................................28 Weites Land for Alto Flute or Flute .........................................................................28 Inspiration and Craftsmanship Little Storyboard for Flute........................................................................................31 Inspiration and Craftsmanship Le Chevalier de Brancion en regardant ses Terres for Flute....................................34 Inspiration and Craftsmanship 3. PEDAGOGY THROUGH MUSIC COMPOSITION...................................................37 Papierblüte #7...........................................................................................................39 Papierblüte #10.........................................................................................................40 Papierblüte #16.........................................................................................................41 4. IMPACT ON THE FLUTE COMMUNITY.................................................................43 Questionnaire Results...............................................................................................44 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................46 APPENDIX A. ULRICH GASSER INTERVIEW...........................................................48 APPENDIX B. COMPOSITION INTERVIEW ...............................................................55 v APPENDIX C. COMPREHENSIVE REPERTOIRE. ..................................................... 59 APPENDIX D. FLUTE REPERTOIRE. .......................................................................... 78 APPENDIX E. QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS............................................................... 87 APPENDIX F. RELEASE FORMS................................................................................ 115 BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................................... 140 INTERVIEW................................................................................................................... 142 DISCOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................ 143 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH .......................................................................................... 144 vi LIST OF FIGURES 1. Photo of Ulrich Gasser (2003).........................................................................................7 2. Harmonic overtone series ..............................................................................................34 3. Quartertones...................................................................................................................34 4. Multiphonic....................................................................................................................34 5. Example of the study guide in Papierblüte #7 ..............................................................38 vii LIST OF MUSICAL EXAMPLES 1. Weites Land, example of the hill motive .......................................................................29 2. Weites Land, quartertone used for pianissimo quality...................................................30 3. Little Storyboard, first line.............................................................................................33 4. Little Storyboard, molto vibrato (m.v.) = wide vibrato .................................................33 5. Le Chevalier, first line from Time/Trains I ...................................................................35 6. Le Chevalier, rhythms and quartertones ........................................................................36 7. Papierblüte #7, first line ...............................................................................................39 8. Papierblüte #10..............................................................................................................41 9. Papierblüte #16, first line ..............................................................................................42 viii ABSTRACT Ulrich Gasser is a contemporary Swiss composer who has written music for nearly every instrument. His compositions for orchestra, chamber winds, choral groups, piano, and organ have been performed throughout Europe. His extensive background in flute pedagogy and performance has heightened his awareness of the instrument’s capabilities and limitations, enabling him to create appropriate repertoire for flutists of all ability levels. Gasser’s compositional style is inspired by landscape, literature, and the visual arts. He has created works such as: Weites Land (1982) for alto flute, Little Storyboard (1993) for flute, and Le Chevalier de Brancion en regardant ses Terres (2004) for flute. Each solo flute composition will be examined in order to showcase Gasser’s craftsmanship. His most noteworthy work for solo flute is entitled Papierblüten (Paper Blossoms), a compilation of twenty-four short pieces that provides an introduction to contemporary music and extended techniques. Composed in 1982, this collection affords young flutists accessibility to new music, presenting it in a methodical sequence, as well as equipping teachers with a concise lesson manual. The exercises are formatted as etudes, though they can also be utilized as miniature performance pieces. This treatise will provide an in-depth view of Swiss culture and the life of Ulrich Gasser. It will also examine how his compositions have impacted both contemporary flute music and the flute community. Additionally, I will profile the performance practice demands characteristic of his works for solo flute. My goal is to document Gasser’s contributions to flute literature and pedagogy