Jean Daetwyler

Jean Daetwyler was a Swiss composer and musician, who grew up in Bulle and started to play violin at the age of seven. However, he initially took up business studies. From 1927, he focused on music and studied under Vincent D’Indy at the Paris Conservatoire, amongst others, returning home to Switzerland in 1933. Five years later, he moved to Sierre with his family to become director of the municipal orchestra.

In the course of a long career Daetwyler taught at the Sion Conservatoire and left a quantity of music commissioned, for instance, by Radio-Lausanne. He was a composer, conductor and director of bands, choirs and folk groups. His artistic career allowed him to deal with all forms of musical language and for all kinds of ensembles singing and piano, chamber music, concertos, symphonic music or harmony, music for radio plays, and choral works sacred and profane. The title of his 1948 entry for the Olympic art competitions is unknown, but a likely candidate is his 1945 work for orchestra titled Ski symphonie. The three movements of the 20-minute long work are titled: 1. Allegro – Con Fuoco (6:58); 2. Andante – Scherzo – Andante (7:07); 3. Vivace (6:10). There is also a 7-minute short version for wind orchestra.