Anna Renfer

Anna Margaretha Spoerri Renfer (1896-1984) was a Swiss composer^[1] who wrote music for cello, piano, and voice.^[2]

Renfer was born in Biel/Bienne. She studied piano as a child, then attended the Bern Conservatory,^[3] the University of Bern, the Conservatory of Bienne, and studied privately in Gstaad. Her teachers included Adrian Aeschbacher, Edwin Fischer, Ernst Levy, Josef Pembauer, Hermann Scherchen, and Rudolf Serkin.^[4]

Renfer's music was published by Hug (today Gebrüder Hug & Co.)^[5] Her compositions included:

Chamber

• Sonata in c minor (cello and piano)^[6]

Piano

• Studies for the Left Hand^[7][8]

Vocal

• 44 Songs^[9]
• “Bridal song for High Voice”^[10]
• Eight Songs for Soprano^[11]
• Sacred Chants (a cappella and for chorus; text by Josef Reinhart)^[12]

References

1. Hixon, Donald L. (1993). Women in music : an encyclopedic biobibliography. Don A. Hennessee (2nd ed.). Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-2769-7. OCLC 28889156.
2. Homuth, Donald (1994). Cello Music Since 1960: A Bibliography of Solo, Chamber & Orchestral Works for the Solo Cellist. Fallen Leaf Press. ISBN 978-0-914913-27-6.
3. Organ and Harpsichord Music by Women Composers: An Annotated Catalog. ABC-CLIO. 1991. ISBN 978-0-313-26802-1.
4. Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International Encyclopedia of Women Composers. Books & Music (USA). ISBN 978-0-9617485-1-7.
5. Patterson, Donald L. (1999). One Handed: A Guide to Piano Music for One Hand. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-31179-6.
6. Revue musicale suisse (in German). Hug & Company. 1968.
7. "Women in music: piano music written for one hand by women composers: Part I. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
8. Revue musicale suisse (in French). Gesellschaft Schweizerische Musikzeitung. 1967.
9. Renfer, Anna. "44 Songs". search.lib.umich.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
10. Das Schweizer Buch (in German). Schweizerischer Buchhändler- und Verlegerverein. 1974.
11. Renfer, Anna. "Eight Songs for Soprano". quod.lib.umich.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
12. Renfer, Anna. "Geistliche Gesänge a cappella und Choräle diverses" (PDF). www.bsb-muenchen.de. p. 158. Retrieved 2022-01-01.