Bernard Reichel

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Bernard Reichel (August 3, 1901 - December 10, 1992) was a 20th century classical composer from the French-speaking part of Switzerland.

Born in Montmirail (canton of Neuchâtel), he settled in Geneva in his twenties. He spent most of his life there, writing a great deal of music, mostly sacred, and working as a music educator. He taught harmony at the Geneva Conservatory for twenty years, and various classes at the [Dalcroze institute] for 53 years. He was also an organist, serving at the Protestant churches of Chêne-Bougeries and Eaux-Vives, two downtown parishes in Geneva.

His musical language is militantly tonal considering the time in which he wrote and taught, and informed by folk music and medieval modes in a way reminiscent, perhaps, of Ralph Vaughn Williams' work. His work is little-known outside of Switzerland, overshadowed in particular by that of his contemporaries, Frank Martin and Arthur Honegger.

He died in 1992, in Lutry, in the canton of Vaud.