Violinist and Pedagogue Philippe Borer has Died, Aged 68

Known for his research on Paganini and violin intonation, Borer was mentored by Max Rostal, Ruggiero Ricci, and Jan Sedivka

Born in 1955, Swiss-Italian violinist Phillipe Borer studied violin with renowned violinists Max Rostal, Ruggiero Ricci, and Jan Sedivka. 

A member of orchestras and chamber ensembles in Switzerland, Italy, and Australia, he received his doctorate degree from the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music in 1988, with his research on the origins and evolution of the European schools of violin playing.

Further, his work on the tuning systems and violin intonation led to the “Violin Slide-Rule,” which is used for the calculation and visualization of musical intervals. 

Among his publications include his often-cited 1997 paper, “The Twenty-Four Caprices of Niccolò Paganini, their significance for the history of violin playing and the music of the Romantic era.”

In 1998, he began performing with a curved bow, which allowed him to play on multiple strings at once. His polyphonic repertoire included works by Marini, Westhoff, Bach, Paganini, and Michael Bach Bachtischa. 

As a recording artist, he performed contemporary music for violin and viola — premiering works by Don Kay, Jean-Frédéric Perrenoud, and John Michet.

From 2007, Borer conducted masterclasses on violin intonation at the Novgorod State University, the Mozarteum Salzburg, and the University of Alberta, among others. He also taught violin and viola at the Swiss Society of Musical Pedagogy.

Borer passed away from cancer and his funeral was held in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Our condolences to his family, friends, students, and colleagues. 

A recording of Borer performing Schubert’s Der Erlkönig transcribed for solo violin by Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst can be heard below.