Willy Hess (composer)

For the violinist, see Willy Hess (violinist).

Willy Hess (1906-1997) was a Swiss musicologist, composer, and famous Beethoven scholar. He achieved fame after compiling and publishing a catalogue of works of Beethoven that were not listed in the "complete" edition.

He was born in Winterthur, where he attended primary and high school, and later studied at the Zurich Conservatory and at the University. He also taught piano, counterpoint, composition, and wrote about music.

He was a bassoonist with the Winterthur Stadtorchester from 1942 to 1971.

Among his compositions is the Sonata for Viola & Bassoon, the only classical-style chamber work written for that combination of instruments.