In Memoriam: Bernhard Billeter, July 26, 1936 – August 4, 2026

Bernhard Billeter grew up in Zurich as the youngest of three siblings with his father, who was a lawyer, and his mother, who held a doctorate in history and philosophy. There was a lot of discussion and music-making in the family, which laid the foundation for Bernhard’s thirst for knowledge, his natural desire for education, and his love of music. It is said that as soon as he could reach the piano keys on tiptoe, he began experimenting with the notes and pressing combinations of keys whose sounds he liked. He found his first chamber music partner in his sister Ruth, who later studied the flute, and chamber music remained a passion of his for the rest of his life.

After earning his high school diploma (Type A) in 1955, he studied piano at the Zurich Conservatory and musicology, philosophy, and theology at the University of Zurich. Further studies took him to Vienna, where he studied organ with Anton Heiller and piano with Grete Hinterhauser. After returning to Switzerland, he gave numerous solo recitals as both an organist and a pianist.

As an organist, he served at various churches and was eventually appointed to the Predigerkirche. There, in over forty recitals, he performed all of Johann Sebastian Bach’s works for keyboard instruments. During this time, he also began writing his book *Bach’s Piano and Organ Music*, which spans over 800 pages and was published in 2011 by Amadeus Verlag in Winterthur. In this work, he was able to draw on his experience as a performer, his knowledge as a musicologist, and the results of his research, thereby combining practice and scholarship, which makes the work truly unique.

He also returned to the subject of Frank Martin time and again. In 1999, Schott Verlag published his book *Frank Martin: Career and Musical Language of His Works*, and his dissertation was titled *Harmony in Frank Martin: Studies in the Analysis of Contemporary Music*. His wife, Verena, had to accept his doctoral diploma on his behalf, however, because he was already on tour through Central and South America with the Zurich Piano Quintet at the time. In his final concerts, which he gave in Amsterdam and Zurich at the age of 88, he also performed works by Frank Martin.
He also worked repeatedly as an editor of sheet music editions by composers such as Paul Hindemith, Othmar Schoeck, Joseph Rheinberger, and Joachim Raff—for whose 200th anniversary in 2022 he even published the Duo for Violin and Piano in G minor, WoO 55, and conducted its world premiere.

Mens sana in corpore sano: His family says he also enjoyed going on climbing trips with his three children, and shortly before his retirement, he rejoined a ski touring group, to which he remained loyal for 25 years.
Perhaps it was this physical activity that allowed him to remain so active well into old age.

Teaching was particularly important to Bernhard Billeter. From 1969 to 1981, he taught piano in the vocational training program at the Lucerne Conservatory, and until his retirement in 2001, he was a lecturer in organ, fortepiano, clavichord, and performance practice at the Zurich University of the Arts. He also served as a lecturer in musicology at the University of Zurich.

From 1984 to 1997, he served as editor-in-chief of the *Schweizerische musikpädagogische Blätter*, and then, until 2010, as a member of the editorial board of the *Schweizer Musikzeitung*.

He was deeply committed to making music education accessible to adults as well, and so he became actively involved in the SMPV and, as a member of the Central Board from 1994 to 2005, worked intensively on further developing the association’s own professional training program. Later, when this program was first offered by the SAMP and then by the Kalaidos College of Music, he could often be found at the music days, where he listened intently to the students, demanding high standards from them while always encouraging them and offering valuable advice. To support the young music college, he also regularly performed in benefit concerts with various chamber music ensembles, always delivering high-quality performances.

Nor did he consider himself too good to serve the SMPV as a delegate from the Zurich chapter after his time on the Central Executive Board, and it was not uncommon for him, when emotions ran high during a contentious issue, to call the delegates to order and steer the discussion back onto a factual track.

After an accident while boarding a tram, he never fully recovered and had to move from his home—along with his many instruments—to a nursing home. Little by little, he had to say goodbye to everything that was important to him, until he passed away on August 4, 2026, surrounded by his family.

Dear Bernhard, I still remember very well how, during our board meetings of the «Association for the Promotion of Private Professional Music Education in Switzerland»—which we had founded to give private music studies one more chance— after the SMPV Central Board had to admit, with a heavy heart, that the SMPV program had no future. But I also haven’t forgotten how much you always enjoyed the brunch we offered and how your face lit up whenever you were allowed to take something you’d baked yourself home with you. Now, as you embark on your final journey, we send you off with our heartfelt thoughts and the promise that we will never forget you or your incredibly important work for music, music education, and, last but not least, the SMPV.

Bernhard Billeter: This photo was taken after his last concert Recorded in Zurich in 2024.
©️ The Billeter Family