Robert Aitken (composer)
Encyclopedia
Robert Morris Aitken, (born August 28, 1939 in Kentville
, Nova Scotia
) is a Canadian
composer
and flautist
. He began his career as a teenager playing in a number of orchestras, notably becoming the youngest principal flautist in the history of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
in 1958 at the age if 19. In 1971 he abandoned ensemble performance to pursue a highly successful solo career. He has appeared as a soloist with major symphony orchestras throughout North America, Europe and Asia and has made more than 40 commercial recordings.
He has played with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
, CBC Symphony Orchestra
, and Toronto Symphony Orchestra
. He is Artistic Director of New Music Concerts in Toronto. He has also done classical and contemporary music (along with eminent harpist Erica Goodman) on BIS Records
. He studied flute wirh Nicolas Fiore, Marcel Moyse
, Jean-Pierre Rampal
, Andre Jaunet
, Severino Gazzelloni
, and Hubert Barwahser.
From 1988 to 2004, Aitken was a member of the music faculty at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, Germany. He is a former faculty member of the University of Toronto
(1960–1975) and the Shawnigan Summer School of Arts (1972–1982). He was also director of advanced studies in music at the Banff Centre
from 1985 to 1989.
Orchestral
Concertante
Chamber music
Choral
Kentville, Nova Scotia
Kentville is a town in Kings County, Nova Scotia. It is one of the main towns in the Annapolis Valley, and it is the county seat of Kings County. As of 2006, the town of Kentville had a population of 5,815 people....
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and flautist
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
. He began his career as a teenager playing in a number of orchestras, notably becoming the youngest principal flautist in the history of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra performing in Vancouver, British Columbia. Over 240,000 people attend its live performances each year. It was founded in 1930 and plays in 12 venues. Its home is the Orpheum theatre. With an annual operating budget of $9.5 million, it is the...
in 1958 at the age if 19. In 1971 he abandoned ensemble performance to pursue a highly successful solo career. He has appeared as a soloist with major symphony orchestras throughout North America, Europe and Asia and has made more than 40 commercial recordings.
He has played with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra performing in Vancouver, British Columbia. Over 240,000 people attend its live performances each year. It was founded in 1930 and plays in 12 venues. Its home is the Orpheum theatre. With an annual operating budget of $9.5 million, it is the...
, CBC Symphony Orchestra
CBC Symphony Orchestra
The CBC Symphony Orchestra was a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario that was operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation during the 1950s and 1960s. Founded in 1952, conductor Geoffrey Waddington served as the orchestra'a only music director; although other conductors, such as...
, and Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:The TSO was founded in 1922 as the New Symphony Orchestra, and gave its first concert at Massey Hall in April 1923. The orchestra changed its name to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1927. The TSO...
. He is Artistic Director of New Music Concerts in Toronto. He has also done classical and contemporary music (along with eminent harpist Erica Goodman) on BIS Records
BIS Records
BIS Records is a record label founded in 1973 by Robert von Bahr. It is located in Åkersberga, Sweden.BIS focuses on classical music, both contemporary and early, especially works that are not already well represented by existing recordings....
. He studied flute wirh Nicolas Fiore, Marcel Moyse
Marcel Moyse
Marcel Moyse was a famous French flutist. Many works were composed for Moyse including the 1934 Flute Concerto by Jacques Ibert...
, Jean-Pierre Rampal
Jean-Pierre Rampal
Jean-Pierre Louis Rampal was a French flautist. He has been personally "credited with returning to the flute the popularity as a solo classical instrument it had not held since the 18th century."-Early years:...
, Andre Jaunet
André Jaunet
André Jaunet was a flutist in the same genre as Marcel Moyse. In later years well known as a very vivid teacher, living and teaching in Zurich, Switzerland. Among others he taught Peter-Lukas Graf and Aurèle Nicolet....
, Severino Gazzelloni
Severino Gazzelloni
Severino Gazzelloni , was an Italian flute player. He was born in Roccasecca and died in Cassino. Gazzelloni was the principal flute in the RAI orchestra for 30 years and dedicatee of many works. Composers including Luciano Berio, Pierre Boulez, Bruno Maderna and Igor Stravinsky wrote pieces for...
, and Hubert Barwahser.
From 1988 to 2004, Aitken was a member of the music faculty at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, Germany. He is a former faculty member of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
(1960–1975) and the Shawnigan Summer School of Arts (1972–1982). He was also director of advanced studies in music at the Banff Centre
Banff Centre
The Banff Centre, formerly known as The Banff Centre for Continuing Education, is an arts, cultural, and educational institution and conference complex located in Banff, Alberta...
from 1985 to 1989.
Selected compositions
- Scores are available through the Canadian Music Centre.
Orchestral
- Spectra for four chamber groups (1968)
- Shadows I: Nekuia (1971)
- Spiral (1975)
Concertante
- Concerto for 12 solo instruments (2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, bassoon, horn, violin, viola, cello, double bass) and orchestra (1965)
- Berceuse "for Those Who Sleep before Us" for flute and orchestra (1992)
- Concerto (Shadows V) for flute and string orchestra (1999)
Chamber music
- Kebyar for flute, clarinet, trombone, 2 double basses, percussion and prepared tape (1971)
- Shadows II: Lalitá for flute, 3 cellos, 2 harps and 2 percussion (1973)
- Icicle for flute solo (1977); Éditions musicales transatlantiques
- Plainsong for flute solo (1977); Universal Edition
- Folia for woodwind quintet (1980)
- My Song: Shadows IV for 2 flutes (1994)
- A Little Ground for Max for violin, trumpet, bass clarinet, double bass, percussion and piano (1997)
- Wedding Song for 2 flutes (1998)
Choral
- Monodie: Fragments for mixed chorus and flute (1983)
Honours
- 1993 – Aitken was made a Member of the Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. - 2003 – National Flute AssociationNational Flute AssociationThe National Flute Association , is the largest organization for flutists in the world. It is an association in the United States.It was founded by Mark Thomas.-External links:*...
Lifetime Achievement Award
External links
- Robert Aitken
- Robert Aitken at the Canadian Music Centre
- Robert Aitken at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...
- Robert Aitken biography and works on the UE website (publisher)
- New Music Concerts