Arthur Honegger

Arthur Honegger was a French composer born to Swiss parents. He first took violin lessons in Paris and then studied at the Zurich Conservatory from 1909-1911. In 1912 he continued his studies at the Paris Conservatory with Charles-Marie Widor and Vincent D’Indy, amongst others. In 1918 he graduated and composed his first independent work, the ballet Le Dit des Jeux du monde (The Tale of the World Games), whose premiere caused a scandal and brought the composer public attention.

Honegger was one of the informal group of young French composers known as “Les Six”. In the early years of his career, he turned to trendy urban music, and in 1923 he composed the most famous of his machine pieces, Mouvement symphonique No. 1, subtitled Pacific 231, the serial number of an American locomotive. For modern listeners, it became a perfect symbol of the machine age. His Mouvement symphonique No. 2, from 1928, was a musical representation of the sport of rugby.

Later, Honegger turned from urban themes to classical forms, often historical or religious in character. His most important works in this genre include Le Roi David (The King David), and Jeanne d’Arc au bûcher (Joan of Arc at the Stake). His symphonies were also free of contemporary allusions. The 2nd Symphony was written in Paris during the German occupation in World War II. Honegger is considered one of the creators of New Music, combining stylistic elements from Baroque music to jazz. His broad oeuvre also included operas and operettas, ballet and film music, orchestral, piano and organ works, chamber music and songs.

Honegger spent most of his life in France but retained his dual Swiss citizenship. In 1926 he married the pianist and composer Andree Vaurabourg (1894-1980), who often played the piano parts in his works. In 1929 he visited the U.S. for the first time, returning in 1947 to teach summer courses at the Berkshire Music Center in Tanglewood; but soon after his arrival he fell ill with a heart condition. He returned to Paris and remained there until his death. In 1951 he published the book “Je suis compositeur” (I am Composer). In 1952 he was admitted as an external member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts. In 1955, the year of his death, he became an honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.