Music Review

A key figure in Switzerland's sound heritage

3 reading minutes
written by James Lyon · May 13, 2026 · 0 comment

The «Presto» collection puts the spotlight on Henri Gagnebin, a polymorphous figure on the Swiss musical landscape. Yves Gerhard delivers a dense portrait of an influential creator, teacher and thinker, whose work and activities at the Conservatoire deserve to be carefully rediscovered.

Editions Infolio's prolific «Presto» collection features emblematic monographs devoted, more often than not, to forgotten personalities. Such is the case of Henri Gagnebin (1886-1977), a remarkable figure in Swiss music. His grandson, Yves Gerhard, is the author of this rich and precious testimony. A «complete musician», the humanist Henri Gagnebin was not only an inspired composer, but also a hymnologist, organist, teacher, association president, director, musicologist, writer, lecturer and music columnist.

Interpreter, hymnologist and teacher

Très jeune, Henri décida de se consac

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James Lyon
James Lyon

A music historian, James Lyon is the author of numerous works on Bach, hymnology, Pestalozzi and English folklore. He was a member of many Parisian orchestras: Pasdeloup, Lamoureux, Radio-France.