Margrit Zimmermann

Full biography Margrit Zimmermann

Margrit Zimmermann was a Swiss composer and pianist who became known for her unique approach to contemporary music. She was born in Geneva in 1933 and began studying piano at a young age.

At the age of 18, Zimmermann enrolled at the Conservatoire de musique de Genève to continue her musical studies. There, she studied composition with composer Karel Goeyvaerts. Goeyvaerts’ influence on Zimmermann’s music was significant, as he introduced her to serialism, a compositional technique in which a composer arranges a series of musical elements in a strict numerical order.

In 1962, Zimmermann won the Prix de Rome, a prestigious award given to composers who demonstrate exceptional musical talent. Shortly thereafter, she shifted her focus toward electronic music and began working at the first electronic music studio in Switzerland at the Conservatoire de musique de Genève. There, she created several works using electronic sounds, including “L’Albatros” (1963) and “Ardoise” (1977).

Many of Zimmermann’s compositions are characterized by their unique soundscapes and her use of non-traditional musical elements, such as silence, spoken text, and found objects. In her later years, she began incorporating elements of her Swiss heritage into her work, including the use of yodeling in her piece “Yodelisation” (1990).

Throughout her career, Zimmermann was an influential figure in European contemporary music and an inspiration to many composers. Her work continues to be celebrated today for its innovative approach to sound and its unique compositional style.