Biography of Robert Morris Aitken (*1939)
Fotografie von Andre Leduc
28.08.1939
Born in Kentville
1955
Lessons with Nicolas Fiore, first solo flutist of Toronto Symphony Orchestra
1958
Principal flute at Vancouver Symphony and studying composition with Barbara Pentland in parallel
1959
Composition studies with John Weinzweig at Toronto University (1961 Bachelor, 1964 Magister)
1960
until 1964 second flute of C.B.C. Symphony Orchestra and teacher at the University of Toronto until 1975
1964
M. Mus in composition from Toronto University and formation of the Lyric Arts Trio with his wife Marion Ross (piano) and Mary Morrison (piano).
Studies of contemporary repertoire with Severino Gazzeloni in Rome. Lessons with Rampal in Paris. Great influence of Moyse. Lessons from Jaunet and Barwahser in Amsterdam.
1965
Co-principal flute of Toronto Symphony Orchestra
1970
Exclusive solo carreer
1971
Artistic director of New Music Concerts Toronto until today,. In the same year he wins the Concours international de flûte de Paris
1972
Wins Concours international de flûte pour la musique contemporaine in Royan
1981
Head of his own summer academy Music at Shawnigan on Vancouver island
1986
Artistic director of Advanced Studies in Music Program at Banff Centre for Fine Arts in Alberta (until 1989)
1988
Lectorship for flute in Freiburg, Germany (until 2004)
2003
Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Flute Association (USA)
2009
Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts
Further information/Sources:
- → Robert Aitken
- → Homepage von Robert Aitken
- → Aitken auf YouTube
- → CDs by/of Robert Morris Aitken bei JPC (mit Hörproben)
- → Music by/with Robert Morris Aitken at amazon.de
- → Books about or by Robert Morris Aitken
CDs with/from Robert Morris Aitken
Robert Morris Aitken, Mendelssohn-Ensemble
- Marcia. Allegro (01:10:00)
- Adagio (05:36:00)
- Menuetto. Allegretto (02:22:00)
- Adagio-Scherzo (Allegro molto) - Adagio - Allegro molto - Adagio (05:30:00)
- Allegretto alla Polacca (03:14:00)
- Andante quasi Allegretto attacca (08:42:00)
- Marcia. Allegro (01:12:00)
- Entrata. Allegro (03:27:00)
- Tempo ordinario d´un Menuetto (05:13:00)
- Allegro molto (02:09:00)
- Andante con variazioni (06:30:00)
- Allegro scherzando e vivace (01:24:00)
- Adagio - Allegro vivace e disinvolto (05:10:00)
Serenade D-Dur op. 8:
Serenade D-Dur op. 25:
Robert Morris Aitken, New Music Concerts Ensemble
Elliott Carter - 100th Anniversary Release (2008)
Mosaic - Dialogues - Enchanted Preludes - Scrivo in Vento
- Mosaic (2005) (11:56:00)
- Scrivo in Vento (1991) (05:32:00)
- Gra (1993) (04:18:00)
- Enchanted Preludes (1988) (06:00:00)
- Steep Steps (2001) (02:40:00)
- Figment No. 1 (1994) (06:16:00)
- Ricononoscenza per Goffredo Petrassi (1984) (05:51:00)
- Figment No. 2 (Remembering Mr. Ives) (2001) (03:58:00)
- Rhapsodic Musing (1999) (03:14:00)
- Dialogues (2004) (14:14:00)
Mirage Quintet
French Flute Chamber Music (2007)
Tournier - Schmitt - Pierne - Francaix - Roussel
- Soir - Calme et expressif (03:26:00)
- Danse - Naïvement (02:01:00)
- Lied - Assez lent, avec mélancolie (03:22:00)
- Fête - Animé (04:48:00)
- Sans hâte (03:40:00)
- Animé (03:49:00)
- sans lenteur (mouvement tres modéré de menuet) (03:38:00)
- Vif (02:31:00)
- Gabriel Pierné: Variations libres et finale, op. 51 (10:52:00)
- Andante tranquillo (02:27:00)
- Scherzo (02:30:00)
- Andante (02:40:00)
- Rondo (01:30:00)
- Allegro (04:32:00)
- Andante (06:55:00)
- Presto (04:26:00)
Marcel Tournier: Suite, op. 34:
Florent Schmitt: Suinte en rocaille, op. 84:
Jean Françaix: Quintette:
Albert Roussel: Sérénade, op. 30:
Literature von/über Robert Morris Aitken
- Flöteninstrumente und ihre Baugeschichte - Spielpraxis - Komponisten und ihre Werke - Interpreten1. edition Laaber: Laaber-Verlag,2009. - ISBN: 978-3-89007-545-7
- Aitken, Robert Morris: L´Après-midi avec Jean-Pierre Rampalin: Tibia 3/95, S. 533ff1995.
Last edit 16.03.2013