Niklaus Keller
Niklaus Keller was born in Switzerland. After receiving a diploma for teaching percussion instruments he studied composition under Hans U. Lehmann at the Musikhochschule Zürich and after that under Paul Glass at the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana.
He worked ten years as a percussion teacher at the Jugendmusikschule Pfannenstiel in the canton Zürich. Hereupon he completed a masters degree at the University of Birmingham GB where he studied composition under Jonty Harrison.
He organised several projects with his music in Switzerland. Here the ensemble had up to eleven musicians.
Niklaus Keller is not a member of a certain compositional movement and he is open-minded about all kinds of musical expressions and his polystylistic work uses devices from the area of serious music and popular music.
The Federal Office of Culture awarded Niklaus Keller’s work and the Zug Youth String Orchestra, the Zurich Symphony Orchestra and the Viollier Institute have commissioned compositions from him.
He works as a composer, music teacher, creator of audio content for various purposes and teaches courses in Logic pro. He currently resides in Bologna, Italy.
Niklaus Keller’s music is published by Müller&Schade, Bern, Switzerland.
List of works
Ländler-Fox (1994) / 4min / Marimba, E-Git, Drum-Set, Vibrafon, Melodica und E-Bass
Die Befürchtung wird wahr (1995) / 3min / Klarinette, Bassetthorn und Bassklarinette
Stück für Cello (1996) / 2’50“ / Violoncello
Filmmusik für Beobachtungen im HB Zürich (1996) / 3min / Grosse Trommel, Synthesizer, E-Git und Snare Drum
Sommerszene in Gelb (1997) / 6min / Trompete, E-Git, Drum-Set, Viola, Violoncello und Kontrabass
Sicerto (1998) / 11min / Streichorchester
Hybrid in A (1999) / 9min / für Big Band: 4 Sax, 4 Trp, 4 Pos, E-Git, E-Bass, Drums und Piano
Das Brot ist aufgegangen (1999) / 4’38“ / Violine, Viola und Violoncello
Die Befürchtung wird wahr (1999) / 2’05“ / Oboe, Violine und Kontrabass
Der Federkopf (2000) / 4’56“ / Bassbariton, E.Hn, Piano, Vl 1+2, Vla, Vc und Kb
Battaglia (2001) / 17min / Altus, E.Hn, Orgel, Piatti antichi (vom Organisten gespielt), Violine 1+2, Viola, Violoncello und Kontrabass
Affe und Wesen (2001) / 6min / 2.2.2.2, 2.2.2.1, Pauken, Streicher
Affe und Wesen (2001) / 6min / Piano solo
Stück für Viola (2002) / 4’30“ / Viola sola
Soliloquium (2002) / 5min / Altsaxofon
Wiener Liebe (2003) / 6’44“ / Altus, Bassbariton, E.Hn, Piano, Vl 1+2, Vla, Vc und Kb
Inspektor, 5/8 im Elysium, Helium und Wellenschlag (2003) / 10min / Synthesizer, Sopran-, Alt- und Tenorsaxofon, Drum-Set und Vibrafon (Auftragskomposition für die Viollier AG, Basel)
Scherzondo (2004) / 12min / Altsaxofon und Streichorchester (Auftragskomposition für das Jugendstreichorchester Zug)
Die Stadt erwacht (2005) / 9min / Altus, Bassbariton, E.Hn, Piano, Vl 1+2, Vla, Vc und Kb
Klostervesper 1 (2007) / 16min / elektroakustisch
Klostervesper 2 (2007) / 16min / 2 Flöten, Sopransaxofon, Altsaxofon, Bassklarinette, Flügelhorn, Horn, 2 Posaunen, Tuba, Röhrenglocken, E-Git und E-Bass
Per Alea Ad Alta (2007) / 5’12“ / elektroakustisch
Blender Saw Tin and Rock (2007) / 3’57“ / elektroakustisch
Per Alea Ad Alta (2008) / 15min / für Orchester: 2d1, 2d1, 2d1, 2d1, 2,2,2,1, Timp, 3 Perk, Harfe, Streicher (Auftragskomposition für das Symphonische Orchester Zürich)
El Lied (2008-09) / 4’30“ / Ob/E.Hn, Piano, Perk, Vl 1+2, Vla, Vc und E-Bass
Consenso (2008-09) / 14min / Altus, Bariton, Ob/E.Hn, Orgel, Perk, Vl 1+2, Vla, Vc und Kb
Recycle (2008-09) / 4min / Ob, Piano, Perk, Vl 1+2, Vla, Vc und E-Bass
Blender (2008-09) / 4min / Ob, Piano, Perk, Vl 1+2, Vla, Vc und Kb
6’38“ (2008-09) / 6’38“ / Ob, Piano, Perk, Vl 1+2, Vla, Vc und Kb
Per Alea Ad Alta (2010) / 5’20″ / Ob/E.Hn, Piano, Perk, Vl 1+2, Vla, Vc und Kb
Rumore Del Cromatismo (2012-14) / 6’30“ / Flöte, Oboe, Klarinette, Fagott, Horn, Posaune, Pauken, Vibrafon, Harfe, 6 Violinen, 2 Viola 2 Violoncello und Kontrabass
Und Trotzdem Liebe Ich Dich (2016) / 9min / Gesang, E-Bass, Piano, Synthesizer, Pianet, Clavinet, Bläser und Drum Set
Intro, Dopo L’Intro, Autogallo, Chrome Shuffle, Brazen Tracer, A Summer Day In Retrospect, Blender, Recycle, The Time Of Renewal, Hybrid, Moo!, Polytrigger (2019-23) / 45min / Flügelhorn, Tenorsaxofon, Posaune, Synthesizer, Vibrafon, E-Gitarre, E-Bass und Drum-Set
Motorsägenkonzert in Bologna (2025) / Hybrides Werk für akustische Instrumente und Motorsägen-Samples. Elektroakustisches Live-Konzert
Solar Reboot, Orbita, Das Licht brennt immer noch, Sei doch mal happy, Esausto, White Coffee, Winterbirken im Schnee, Polpette/Buletten, Der Derwish, Der Buschpilot, Helmand, Am See, Maqam Studie, Shackleton, Wiener Liebe immer wieder/Amore viennese, Gutnacht (2026-27) / ca.60’/ Singstimme, akustische Gitarre, Viola, Kontrabass und Perkussion
© 2026 Niklaus Keller