A Swiss idyllic

You could certainly say that this music was already old when it was composed. It is restrained, measured, dignified and idyllic. Listening to it, one would initially think it was written by an Englishman who had taken a few lessons from Paul Hindemith. But wrong! A Swiss composer, born in Niederuzwil in 1892, grew up in Basel and taught Max Reger in Leipzig, as did Othmar Schoeck. He later worked as a choir and orchestra conductor as well as a teacher of music theory and composition at the Basel Conservatory. His best-known pupils include Paul Sacher and Yehudi Menuhin. Sacher performed some of his works in his early years. Was that it? A local great, yes. He obviously had what he wanted and could afford to abstain from anything modern. Should we remember the composer? Rudolf Moser, who died in an accident in the mountains near Silvaplana in 1960.

In Schoeck's shadow, Swiss symphonists such as Fritz Brun and Joseph Lauber have been successfully revived for some time - orchestral dramatists. Moser's music also has a classical feel: suites, divertimenti and - in addition to several solo concertos - even a concerto grosso. Yes, there is also a Game musicThe music was conducted with a light but sure hand, cleanly crafted and occasionally fugal. Moser loved counterpoint in dance music. The chamber orchestra I Tempi from Basel, under the direction of Gevorg Gharabekyan, performs it in a lively and stylistically confident manner and accompanies Marc Lachat's enchanting oboe playing in the late concerto from 1950. A small discovery, therefore, and extremely pleasant to listen to. I don't want to overrate them, but beyond that, these five pieces by Rudolf Moser are a welcome addition to the repertoire of any string orchestra.

Rudolf Moser: Works for String Orchestra. Chamber Orchestra I Tempi; conductor Gevorg Gharabekyan; Marc Lachat, oboe. Genuin GEN 22773