Born: May 22, 1942 - Thun, Switzerland

Guy Bovet is a Swiss organist and composer. He studied organ with Marie Dufour in Lausanne, Pierre Segond in Genva and Marie-Claire Alain in Paris. From 1979 to 1999 he taught Spanish organ music at the University of Salamanca. Since 1989 he is a Professor at the Musikhochschule in Basel, Switzerland. Besides he has taught in institutes and unversities in Berlin, Hamburg, Vienna, Helsinki, Oslo, Warsaw, Moskaw and London, at the University of Western Ontario, the University of Oregon, the Drake University, the Southern Methodist University and the University of Cincinnati. In addition he has given courses and organ academies all over Europe, in Japan and Mexico.

Guy Bovet is appreciated in the musical world as a many-sided, original and cultivated artist, active in many fields. He is constantly on the road travelling to all parts of the world where organs are played, and keeps a busy concert schedule of about 60 recitals per year. His discography of more than 50 records and CD’s includes recordings made mostly on historical instruments of Switzerland, France, Spain, Latin America and lately also in Japan. Several of these recordings have been distinguished with prizes like the French «Laser d’or» or the German «Grammi» award.

Guy Bovet's activities in the preservation of historical instruments are appreciated all over the world and he has advised organ builders and restorers in Europe, Japan and both Americas, as well as in the Philippines. He has also revived the organ of the Alain family, for which Jehan Alain composed most of his music. This instrument is now restored and re-installed in one of the former convent buildings of the beautiful Clunysian site and village of Romainmôtier, Switzerland, where yearly organ academies are held.

As a composer, Guy Bovet has worked much for theatre and films, but his catalogue of over 200 opus numbers includes all kinds of music. Much of his organ music has been published by various companies (Oxford University, Schola Cantorum, Eulenburg).

Guy Bovet has published works for four organs by composers from the Einsiedeln Abbey (Doblinger) and the complete organ work by Spanish composer José Lidón (Schola Cantorum). His long-awaited new edition of Francisco Correa de Arauxo’s Facultad organica 1626 is about to appear in 2006, published by « Ut Orpheus » in Bologna. A scholar and investigator, he has also published over 1400 various articles in music journals on matters related to the organ. He is chief editor of the Swiss organ periodical La Tribune de l’Orgue. A specialist of Hispanic organ music, he has carried out a survey of historical organs in Mexico and Brasil, in cooperation with UNESCO and the Swiss cultural foundation PRO HELVETIA. During twenty years, he has taught courses for interpretation of Spanish organ music at the University of Salamanca. He is giving numerous masterclasses on this and other subjects in many festivals, universities and academies all over the world. Recently, he has accepted a teaching assignment for improvisation at the Conservatory "G.B. Martini" of Bologna, Italy. He functions as a juror in major international organ competitions.

Guy Bovet is organist of the Collegiate Church of Neuchâtel, honorary citizen of the City of Dallas, Texas, and doctor honoris causa of the University of Neuchâtel. He has been honoured by the Japanese government for his activities as a teacher.

Works

Premier livre d’orgue (1958/59)
Deuxième livre d’orgue (1958-61)
Troisième livre d'orgue (1960-64)
Mouvement symphonique (1962)
Psaumes vocaux (1962-64)
Concertino für Orgel, Streichorchester, Flöte und Oboe (1963)
Mystère de Noël 1963 (1963)
Mystère de Noël 1964 (1964)
Quatrième livre d’orgue (1964-70)
Suite à 2 orgues (1964)
Sonata da chiesa für Oboe d´amoure und Orgel (1965)
La Nouvelle Etoile (1965)
Fantaisie pour flûte, cor et orgue (1969)
Concerto für Orgel und Sinfonieorchester (1969)
Variations Romanesques (1970)
Seconda sonata da chiesa für Bassflöte und Orgel (1970)
Requiem pour un vrai Noël (1971)
5ème livre d’orgue (1971-75)
Improvisation sur un thème japonais (1974)
Bachaphrase für Orgel und Tonband (1976)
Hommage à Haendel (1976)
Salve Regina für Orgel (1978)
Concerto pour chœur et orgue (1979)
Trois Préludes Hambourgeois für Orgel (1987)
Nouvelles pièces d’orgue (1993)
Messe pour les Bâloises (1993)
Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, Kantate für Chor und Orgel (1994)
Versammlung der Tiere, musikalische Komödie (1995)
12 Tangos ecclesiasticos für Orgel (1999)
Trois Esquisses Japonaises (2001)

Source: Guy Bovet Website; German Wikipdia Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (May 2006)

Use of Chorale Melodies in his works

Title

Chorale Melody

Year

Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, for Partita sopra for organ, in Deuxième livre d’orgue

Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele

1958-1961

Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, for organ, in Quatrième livre d’orgue

Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele

1964-1970

Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, for organ, in Nouvelles pièces d’orgue

Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele

1993

Links to other Sites

Guy Bovet organiste (Official Website) [French/English]
Bovet, Guy (Concert Organists)

Guy Bovet (Wikipedia) [German]

Bibliography

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