Back to Switzerland this weekend for a performance of the Icare Ballet Suite by Swiss composer Max Lang. The Basel Orchestra is conducted by the composer in the radio studio performance from November 28, 1955.

I’ve been running performances from the Swiss Radio archives for several weeks now – it’s an amazing adventure, not only in historic recordings but discovering composers I’m not familiar with (as I’m sure many of you are well) – it has yielded a treasure trove of discoveries and has sparked interest in hearing more.

In the case of Max Lang, it’s a snapshot glimpse of a composer covering only 10 pieces that have been recorded, or at least digitized from original sources. Still, it’s a much enjoyed adventure, making these discoveries on an almost daily basis.

Below is a small biography, culled from Max Lang’s website.

Max Lang was born in Zurich on January 11, 1917. He studied at the Basel Trumpet Conservatory with Paul Hübner (1936 orchestra diploma), piano with Charlotte Schrameck (1939 teaching diploma) and conducted with Hans Münch (1946 Kapellmeister diplom). After autodidactic attempts to composition in the early 1940s, Lang visited 1945 master classes for composition at Arthur Honegger. From 1936 to 1946, Max Lang played as a solo trumpeter in the Basel orchestra society and also worked as a correepator. In 1946 he was appointed to the Schauspielhaus Zurich as a house composer and musical director in 1946; From 1951 he worked as a chapel master, musical head and music board at the St. Gallen city theater. Max Lang died on May 29, 1987 in St. Gallen. The compositional work of Max Lang comprises all genres and combines French and German style characteristics of the music of the interwar period. Source: Suisa (ed.), Swiss composer of our time. Biographies, list of work with discography and bibliography, 3rd edition, Winterthur 1993.

Hopefully this sample from his archive of compositions will prompt you to go exploring as well – it’s a vast panorama of musical activity in Switzerland and it wouldn’t hurt to go digging yourself.

In the meantime . . .