Wanni und die Coelestine, op. 65, for Oboe and Piano

In «Wanni», a legendary story from the Valaisan mountains, describes the author Gertrud Oester, how Wanni, the mountain ghost, has been driving his being from the Wiwannihorn for millions of years. As a friend of the animals, he also carefully watches over the behavior of the people. If they do something that is not in harmony with nature, he lets his destructive powers take over. But the sensitive Wanni loves people and wants them to become his friends, thanks to the help of Pit, the shepherd boy who tends his uncle's sheep on the alp.
After reading the book, I was gripped by Wanni's essence. I was touched by his care, his kindness as well as his severity towards people and his closeness to nature. So I decided to write this short piece, in which I tried to make the feelings of the mountain spirit Wanni sound. I wrote »Wanni« for my friend, the teacher, alpinist and oboist Hans Peter Duttle and his partner Vreni Ellenberger, who lives in Ausserberg, the village in the Rhone valley below the Wiwannihorn. Wanni certainly takes great pleasure in her attitude towards nature. Roger Faedi

String duo

Wanni und die Coelestine
for Oboe and Piano
Playing score‍‍