Robert Turner (composer)
Robert Turner | |
---|---|
Born | Montreal, Quebec | June 6, 1920
Died | January 26, 2012 Winnipeg, Manitoba | (aged 91)
Occupation(s) | Composer, educator, radio producer |
Robert Comrie Turner, CM (June 6, 1920 – January 26, 2012) was a Canadian composer, educator, and radio producer.[1]
Biography
Born in Montreal, Turner graduated in 1943 with a bachelor's degree in music from
From 1952-68, Turner worked as a
Turner's music has been described as reflecting a variety of influences including jazz, folk music and dance. The composer himself described his music as lyrical and tonal; it also has been noted that Turner could integrate "contemporary techniques with a strong command of mood and evocation, especially of place."[1] He wrote more than 70 works including two operas: The Brideship (1967) and Vile Shadows (1983).[4]
Turner was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in 2002.[5]
The Turner portrait in the Canadian Composers Portraits series was released in 2004.[6]
He received the Western Canadian Music Alliance's Heritage Award in 2009.[7]
Robert Turner died in Winnipeg on January 26, 2012.[8]
Selected works
- Stage
- The Brideship, Opera in 1 act, 3 scenes (1966–67); libretto by George Woodcock
- Vile Shadows, Opera in 2 acts for soloists and wind quintet (1982–83, revised 1998); libretto after the play by Norman Newton
- Orchestra
- Opening Night, Theatre Overture (1955)
- Lyric Interlude (1956)
- Nocturne (1956, 1965); original version for piano
- A Children's Overture (1958); suitable for youth and community orchestras
- The Pemberton Valley, Suite (1958)
- Symphony for Strings, string orchestra (1960)
- 3 Episodes (1963)
- Moerae (1963)
- Eidolons, 12 Images, chamber orchestra (1972)
- Variations on "The Prairie Settlers's Song" (1974)
- Symphony in One Movement "Gift from the Sea", Symphony No. 2 (1983)
- Playhouse Music (1986)
- Shades of Autumn (1987)
- Manitoba Memoir, string orchestra (1989)
- Symphony No. 3 (1990)
- House of Shadows, A Symphonic Synthesis after the Opera Vile Shadows (1994)
- Diverti-memento, chamber orchestra (1997)
- Festival Dance (1997)
- Band
- Robbins' Round, Concertino, jazz band (1959)
- Concertante
- Concerto, 2 pianos, orchestra (1971)
- Chamber Concerto, bassoon, 17 instruments (1973)
- Capriccio Concertante, cello, piano, orchestra (1975)
- From a Different Country: Homage to Gabrieli, solo brass quintet, orchestra (1976)
- Encounters, soloists, orchestra (1985)
- Flutenanny, Encounter I, flute, string orchestra, harp
- Spring Greeting, Encounter II, clarinet, string orchestra, piano
- Shadows, Like Lost Souls, Encounter III, violin, orchestra
- A Great Quiet and a Still Home, Encounter IV for cello and orchestra
- Ebb Tide, Encounter V, voice (high or low), orchestra; words by Marjorie Pickthall
- The Wind's and the Wave's Riot, Encounter VI, piano, orchestra
- Shepherd on the Make, Encounter VII, oboe, string orchestra, percussion
- The Old Sea's Pride, Encounter VIII, horn, orchestra
- The Strong Thunder of the Full Straits, Encounter IX, trombone, orchestra
- Concerto, viola, orchestra (1986–87)
- A Group of Seven: Poems of Love and Nature by Canadian Poets, viola, narrator, orchestra (1991)
- Chamber music
- String Quartet No. 1 (1949)
- Lament, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, piano (1951)
- String Quartet No. 2 (1954)
- Sonata, violin, piano (1956)
- Little Suite for harp (1957)
- Vignette, clarinet, 2 violins, viola, cello (1958, revised 1988)
- Variations and Toccata, flute (piccolo), oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass (1959)
- Serenade for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon (1960)
- 4 Fragments, 2 trumpets, horn, 2 trombones (1961)
- Fantasia, organ, brass quintet, timpani (1962)
- Diversities, violin, bassoon, piano (1967)
- Transition, Trio: violin, cello, piano (1969)
- Fantasy and Festivity, harp (1970)
- Nostalgia, soprano saxophone, piano (1972)
- String Quartet No. 3 (1975)
- Lament for Linos, An Elegiac Triptych flute (piccolo), clarinet (E-flat clarinet), piano (celesta), prepared tape, slides (1978); words by Rainer Maria Rilke
- Shadow Pieces, flute, bassoon, violin, cello, piano (1981)
- Bitonal Wedding, 3 Fanfares, 2 trumpets (1997)
- Keyboard
- Sonata Lyrica, piano (1955, revised 1963)
- Nocturne, piano (1956); orchestrated in 1965
- Dance of the Disenchanted, piano (1959, 1988)
- 6 Voluntaries, organ (1959)
- A Merry-Mournful (Major-Minor) Mood, piano (1971)
- Wedding March, organ or piano (1977)
- Vestiges, 3 Pieces, piano (1987)
- Vocal
- Eclogue: The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd, voice, oboe (or flute, or clarinet, or violin), harpsichord (or piano) (1958); words by Sir Walter Raleigh
- 4 Songs, tenor, orchestra (1959)
- The Phoenix and the Turtle, mezzo-soprano, flute, bass clarinet, clarinet, string trio, celesta, harp (1964); words by William Shakespeare
- Suite in Homage to Melville, soprano, alto, viola, piano (1966); words by Herman Melville
- Four Songs, voice, orchestra (1969); words from Friday's Child by Wilfred Watson
- Johann's Gift to Christmas, narrator, orchestra (1972)
- Ebb Tide, Encounter V, voice (high or low), orchestra (1985); words by Marjorie Pickthall
- Time for Three, 3 Songs, mezzo-soprano, viola, piano (1985); words by John Milton, Marjorie Pickthall and anonymous
- Four "Last Songs," voice, violin, piano (1995); words by Francis Ledwidge
- Choral
- 2 Choral Pieces, mixed chorus (1952); words by Wallace Stevens and E. E. Cummings
- Mobile for mixed, chorus, percussion (1960); words by Elder Olson
- Prophetic Song, female chorus a cappella (1961); words by Percy Bysshe Shelley
- The Third Day, Cantata, 2 sopranos, contralto, tenor, baritone, mixed chorus, orchestra (1962)
- The House of Christmas, 4 Carols, mixed chorus (1963); words by G. K. Chesterton
- 5 Canadian Folk Songs from the Maritimes and Newfoundland, soprano, mixed chorus (1973)
- 10 Canadian Folk Songs, voice, piano (1973) or voice, orchestra (1980)
- Amoroso Canto, mixed chorus a cappella (1978); words by Wallace Stevens, Paul Verlaine, Louis Dudek, Guillaume Apollinaire and Thomas Hardy
- River of Time, mixed chorus, orchestra (1994); words by Matthew Arnold
- Television scores
- Object Matrimony, Television play (1958)
- The Pemberton Valley, Documentary (1958)
- Yosef Drenters, Documentary (1961)
References
- ^ a b c d e Hanson, Jens; Ware, Evan (10 September 2012). "Robert Turner". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "Sara Scott Turner [obituary]". Winnipeg Free Press. 3 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "Robert Turner". University of Manitoba, Faculty of Music. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ Ingraham, Mary I. (2007). "Something to Sing About: A Preliminary List of Canadian Staged Dramatic Music Since 1867" (PDF). Intersections: Canadian Journal of Music. 28 (1): 14–77 – via Erudit.
- ^ "Mr. Robert Turner, Order of Canada". Governor General of Canada. 24 October 2003. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ Stephen, J. Drew (2004). "Robert Turner". CAML Review. 32 (3): 49–50.
- ^ "2009 Western Canadian Music Award Artistic Winners". Breakoutwest. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "Winnipeg composer Robert Turner dead at 91". Winnipeg Free Press. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
External links
- Robert Turner Canadian Music Centre
- Robert Turner University of Manitoba, Faculty of Music
- Robert Turner The Canadian Encyclopedia
- Robert C. Turner fonds. Library and Archives Canada
- Robert Turner Discography at Discogs.com
- Dr. Robert Turner Documentary short presented at the Western Canadian Music Awards, 2009. YouTube video (3:18)