Robin Orr
Robert Kemsley (Robin) Orr
Life
Born in Brechin, and educated at Loretto School,[1] he studied the organ at the Royal College of Music in London under Walter Galpin Alcock, and piano with Arthur Benjamin.[2] He then continued his studies at Pembroke College, Cambridge under Cyril Rootham. Following studies with Alfredo Casella and Nadia Boulanger in Paris he returned to Cambridge in 1938 as Organist of St John's College, succeeding Rootham.[2] During his war service in the Royal Air Force Herbert Howells deputised for him.
After
He returned to Cambridge in 1965 as
He was not related to Buxton Orr (1924-1997) - also a Scottish composer.
Music
The overture The Prospect of Whitby (after the
A CD of his orchestral music, including the Italian Overture (1952), From the Book of Philip Sparrow for soprano and strings setting John Skelton (1969), Rhapsody for string orchestra (1958) and Journeys and Places for soprano and orchestra setting Edwin Muir (1971) was issued in 2000 to mark the composer's 90th birthday.[17][18] A further CD of his chamber music, including Max Rostal's historic 1948 recording of the Sonatina for Violin and Piano (1941), as well as other archive recordings of the Violin Sonata (1947), Serenade for String Trio (1948, rev. 1989) and Duo for Violin and Cello in one movement (1953, rev. 1965), was issued for the centenary in 2009.[19] The chamber music shows a growing maturity of compositional technique and intensity of feeling, especially after the war (for instance in the slow dolente movement of the 1947 Violin Sonata). The Serenade shows the growing influence on Central European expressionism on his music. The Duo for violin and cello is so dense it sometimes sounds almost like a string quartet.[20]
The Sinfonietta Helvetica (1990) was his final orchestral work. It written in Switzerland, where he had a second home near Klosters, to mark the 700th anniversary of the Swiss confederation.[7] It was first performed at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on 6 December 1991 by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Feodor Glushchenko.[21]
References
- ^ a b "Professor Robin Orr". independent.co.uk. 12 April 2006. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- ^ a b c Griffiths, Paul. 'Orr, Robin [Robert] (Kemsley)' in Grove Music Online
- ^ McDonald, Tim (14 April 2006). "Obituary: Robin Orr". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- ^ Wilson, Conrad. Alex: The Authorised Biography of Sir Alexander Gibson (1993)
- ^ Kemp, Ian. 'Robin Orr at 90', in The Musical Times, Spring 1990, pp. 11-17
- ^ Obituary, Daily Telegraph, 15 May 2006
- ^ a b c McLeod, John. 'Orr, Robert Kemsley [Robin]' in The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- ^ Obituary, The Times, 17 April 2006
- ^ WorldCat
- ^ Fricker, Simpson, Orr Symphonies, reviewed at MusicWeb International
- ^ BBC Proms archive, 8 August 1966
- ^ Full Circle, Faber Music
- ^ Hermiston, Opera Scotland
- ^ On the Razzle, Wise Music
- ^ Cole, Hugo. 'Orr, Robin' in Grove Music Online (Opera)
- ^ Music and Letters, Volume 45 No 1, January 1964, p 90–91
- ^ Robin Orr, Orchestral Works, reviewed at MusicWeb International
- ^ Kemp, Ian. 'Robin Orr at 90: Age of Gold' in Musical Times No 1866, Spring 1999, p 11-17
- ^ Robin Orr, Centenary Tribute, reviewed at MusicWeb International
- ^ Magil, Joseph. Review of Guild 2350 in American Record Guide, May/June 2010, p 130
- ^ Radio Times, issue 3545, 21 November 1991, p 104
External links
- Symphony in One Movement. Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Alexander Gibson (Conductor)