Kurt von Fischer
Kurt von Fischer (25 April 1913 – 27 November 2003) was a Swiss musicologist and classical pianist. Life. Fischer wurde was born on 25 April 1913 in Bern as the son of the mycologist Eduard Fischer. Fischer studied piano at the University of the Arts Bern, which he completed in 1935 with a diploma under Franz Josef Hirt. Later he was trained by Czesław Marek. In addition, he studied musicology at the University of Bern and received his doctorate in 1938. From 1939 to 1957 he worked as a teacher at the Bern Conservatory. From 1948 to 1957  he was appointed Privatdozent at the University of Bern. From 1957 to 1979 he taught musicology as "Ordinarius" at the University of Zurich, from 1974 to 1976 as Dean. He has also held visiting professorships in Europe, the US and Australia. In addition, he was an honorary member of numerous scientific societies and president of the International Musicological Society from 1967 to 1972. In 1974 he was awarded the Music Prize of the Canton of Berne. In 1980 he was awarded the Hans Georg Nägeli Medal of the City of Zurich. He has corresponded with many famous personalities of the  20th century, including Inge Borkh, Alfred Cortot, György Ligeti, Arvo Pärt, Sándor Veress, Wladimir Vogel and Jean Ziegler. Fischer, who married the pianist Esther Aerni in 1940, died on 27 November 2003 at the age of 90 in Bern. Fischer's main areas of research were the Ars nova of the 14th century, the history of the Passions composition as well as variation and the work of Ludwig van Beethoven. The internationally renowned teacher and researcher Fischer was named Honorary Citizen of Certaldo for his services to trecento research.