Robert Fleming (composer)
Encyclopedia
Robert James Berkeley Fleming (November 12, 1921 – November 28, 1976) was a Canadian
composer, pianist, organist, choirmaster and teacher.
Robert was born in Prince Albert
, Saskatchewan
. At a young age his family settled in Saskatoon
where he first studied with his mother. Between 1937 and 1939 he studied under Arthur Benjamin
, and Herbert Howells
in England at the RCM.
When he returned to Saskatoon he taught Piano before making his formal debut in 1940 at Darke Hall in Regina and later toured Saskatchewan as a recitalist. While studying piano with Lyell Gustin in 1941-2 he became the assistant organist at the Church of St Alban the Martyr in Saskatoon. In 1941 and 1945 he attended The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), to which in later years he contributed music.
While at RCM he studied under Healey Willan
for composition, Norman Wilks for piano, Ettore Mazzoleni
for conducting, and John Weatherseed and Frederick Silvester
for Organ. Between 1945 and 1946 he taught at Upper Canada College
before joining the National Film Board where he worked in Ottawa
and Montreal
as a staff composer between 1946 and 1958 before becoming music director between 1958 and 1970.
Between those years he was music director for the Ottawa Ballet Festival in 1953 and organist-choirmaster at Glebe United Church in 1954 and at St George's Anglican Church in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue
, Quebec
.
In 1970 he and his family moved back to Ottawa where he taught 20th-century music and Canadian composers at Carleton University
. In 1972 he became the organist-choirmaster at St Matthias' Anglican Church in Ottawa (Westboro). He died November 28, 1976 and is survived by his wife Margaret Fleming, his children Berkeley, Michael, Richard and Margot, and nine grandchildren.
series.
Song cycle for Mezzo-Soprano The Confession Stone
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, pianist, organist, choirmaster and teacher.
Robert was born in Prince Albert
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Prince Albert is the third-largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is situated in the centre of the province on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. The city is known as the "Gateway to the North" because it is the last major centre along the route to the resources of northern Saskatchewan...
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. At a young age his family settled in Saskatoon
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
where he first studied with his mother. Between 1937 and 1939 he studied under Arthur Benjamin
Arthur Benjamin
Arthur Leslie Benjamin was an Australian composer, pianist, conductor and teacher. He is best known as the composer of Jamaican Rhumba, composed in 1938.-Biography:...
, and Herbert Howells
Herbert Howells
Herbert Norman Howells CH was an English composer, organist, and teacher, most famous for his large output of Anglican church music.-Life:...
in England at the RCM.
When he returned to Saskatoon he taught Piano before making his formal debut in 1940 at Darke Hall in Regina and later toured Saskatchewan as a recitalist. While studying piano with Lyell Gustin in 1941-2 he became the assistant organist at the Church of St Alban the Martyr in Saskatoon. In 1941 and 1945 he attended The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), to which in later years he contributed music.
While at RCM he studied under Healey Willan
Healey Willan
Healey Willan, was an Anglo-Canadian organist and composer. He composed more than 800 works including operas, symphonies, chamber music, a concerto, and pieces for band, orchestra, organ, and piano...
for composition, Norman Wilks for piano, Ettore Mazzoleni
Ettore Mazzoleni
Ettore Mazzoleni was a Canadian conductor, music educator, writer, and arts administrator of Swiss birth. He was one of the Canadian Opera Company's principal conductors during its early years, working there from 1958-1968...
for conducting, and John Weatherseed and Frederick Silvester
Frederick Silvester
Frederick John Silvester is a retired British Conservative Party politician.Silvester was educated at Sir George Monoux Grammar School, Walthamstow and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. He became a barrister, called to the bar by Gray's Inn in 1957, and was an advertising executive...
for Organ. Between 1945 and 1946 he taught at Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College , located in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is an independent elementary and secondary school for boys between Senior Kindergarten and Grade Twelve, operating under the International Baccalaureate program. The secondary school segment is divided into ten houses; eight are...
before joining the National Film Board where he worked in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
as a staff composer between 1946 and 1958 before becoming music director between 1958 and 1970.
Between those years he was music director for the Ottawa Ballet Festival in 1953 and organist-choirmaster at Glebe United Church in 1954 and at St George's Anglican Church in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue is a town located at the western tip of the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is the second oldest community in Montreal's West Island, having been founded as a parish in 1703...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
.
In 1970 he and his family moved back to Ottawa where he taught 20th-century music and Canadian composers at Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
. In 1972 he became the organist-choirmaster at St Matthias' Anglican Church in Ottawa (Westboro). He died November 28, 1976 and is survived by his wife Margaret Fleming, his children Berkeley, Michael, Richard and Margot, and nine grandchildren.
Works
Through his career Robert contributed music to well over 200 film scores including the Canada at WarCanada at War
Canada at War is a Canadian World War II documentary television series which aired on CBC Television in 1962.-Premise:Production of this National Film Board of Canada documentary series began in 1958, using numerous film sources such as British films available in Canada, captured German footage,...
series.
Song cycle for Mezzo-Soprano The Confession Stone
Robert Fleming Prize
In his memory, the Canada Council for the Arts awards the Robert Fleming Prize annually to encourage the careers of young creators of music.See also
- Music of CanadaMusic of CanadaThe music of Canada has influences that have shaped the country. Aboriginals, the British, and the French have all made unique contributions to the musical heritage of Canada. The music has subsequently been heavily influenced by American culture because of its proximity and migration between...
- List of Canadian composers