Margrit Zimmermann facts for kids

Margrit Zimmermann (born August 7, 1927 – died February 23, 2020) was a talented musician from Switzerland. She was a pianist, a composer who wrote music, a conductor who led orchestras, and a music teacher.

Early Life and Education

Margrit Zimmermann was born in 1927. She loved music from a young age. She started her music studies in Switzerland. She learned to play the piano from teachers like Jeanne Bovet. She also studied how to write music, called composition, with Walter Furrer.

Later, she continued her piano studies in Lausanne. She learned from famous teachers like Alfred Cortot. She then went to the École Normale de Musique de Paris in France. There, she studied composition with Arthur Honegger. She finished her piano studies in 1952.

Margrit Zimmermann also wanted to learn how to lead an orchestra. This is called conducting. She trained with Ewald Körner in Bern. She also took special classes from famous conductors like Igor Markevitch. She later earned a diploma in composition in 1978. This was from the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan, Italy.

Music Career and Achievements

Margrit Zimmermann worked as a music teacher for many years. She also became a conductor, leading musical groups. In 1973, she started her own orchestra in Bern, Switzerland. This showed her dedication to music.

She received several awards for her musical talents. In 1986, she won the Jubiläumsstiftung award. She also received awards for being a female composer from cities like Unna and Kassel. In 1989, she got an award from the Japan International League of Artists in Tokyo. These awards recognized her important contributions to music.

Margrit Zimmermann passed away in Bern, Switzerland, in 2020.

Compositions

Margrit Zimmermann wrote many different kinds of music. She composed pieces for orchestras, for voices, and for solo instruments. Her works include music for ballet, piano, and string instruments like violins and cellos. She also wrote music for wind instruments and guitar.

Here are a few examples of her many compositions:

• Drei Lieder, op. 5 (1977–78) – These are three songs.
• Musica per nove archi, op. 17 (1977) – Music for nine string instruments.
• Quartetto d'archi Nr. 1, op. 7 (1979–1982) – This is her first string quartet. A quartet is a group of four musicians.
• Introduzione e Allegro, op. 12 (1979) – A symphony for a large orchestra.
• Per Sei, op. 9 (1980) – Music for six instruments: flute, violin, viola, cello, piano, and timpani.
• Black Box, op. 19 (1981–82) – Written for oboe, clarinet, horn, and bassoon.
• Bianchi-Neri, op. 36 (1984) – A piece for piano.
• Pianorama, op. 59 (1987) – A concert piece for piano and string orchestra.
• In Urbis Honorem, op. 61 (1992) – For a mixed choir and orchestra.