12 Facts About Willy Burkhard

Willy Burkhard was a Swiss composer and academic teacher, influential in both capacities.

Willy Burkhard taught music theory at the Berne Conservatory and the Zurich Conservatory.

Willy Burkhard's works include an opera, oratorios, cantatas, and many instrumental genres from piano pieces to symphonies.

Willy Burkhard attended and graduated from a teachers' training college Evangelisches Lehrerseminar Muristalden.

Willy Burkhard moved to Leipzig to study piano with Robert Teichmuller and composition with Sigfrid Karg-Elert.

Willy Burkhard was appointed professor at the Berne Conservatory in 1928.

Willy Burkhard settled in Zurich in 1942 and taught composition and music theory at the Zurich Conservatory, where his students included Klaus Huber, Rudolf Kelterborn, Ernst Pfiffner, Armin Schibler and Ernst Widmer.

Willy Burkhard died in Zurich in 1955 at the age of 55.

Willy Burkhard was interested to compose for voices, and regarded for renovated sacred music.

Willy Burkhard is known for sacred choral music, including oratorios Das Gesicht Jesajas and Das Jahr, and the cantata Die Sintflut.

Willy Burkhard composed an opera, Die Schwarze Spinne based on Gotthelf's novella The Black Spider.

Willy Burkhard wrote song settings for solo voice and choirs, chamber music and piano works.