Aitken, Robert (Morris)

0Aitken, Robert (Morris), Canadian flutist, pedagogue, and composer; b. Kentville, Nova Scotia, Aug. 28, 1939. He studied flute with Nicholas Fiore at the Royal Cons. of Music of Toronto (1955–59); concurrently received lessons in composition from Pentland at the Univ. of British Columbia; then studied electronic music with Schaeffer and composition with Weinzweig at the Univ. of Toronto (B.Mus., 1961; M.Mus., 1964); also flute with Marcel Moyse in Europe and in Marlboro, Vt., Rampai in Paris and Nice, Gazzelloni in Rome, André Jaunet in Zurich, and Hubert Barwahser in Amsterdam. In 1958-59 he was principal flutist in the Vancouver Sym. Orch.; then was 2^nd flutist in the CBC Sym. Orch. (1960–64). After serving as co- principal flutist in the Toronto Sym. (1965–70), Aitken devoted himself to a concert career. He also was artistic director of the New Music Concerts in Toronto (from 1971) and of the advanced studies in music program at the Banff Centre School of Fine Arts (1985–89). He taught at the Royal Cons. of Music of Toronto (1957-64; 1965-68), the Univ. of Toronto (1960-64; 1965-78), the Banff Centre School of Fine Arts (1977–89), and the Staatliche Hoch-schule für Musik in Freiburg im Breisgau (from 1988).

Works

Rhapsody for Orch. (1961); Quartet for Flute, Oboe, Viola, and Double Bass (1961); Music for Flute and Electronic Tape (1963); Nosis for Electronic Tape (1963); Concerto for 12 Solo Instruments (1964); Spectra for 4 Chamber Groups (1969); Kebyar for Flute, Clarinet, 2 Double Basses, Percussion, and Tape (1971); Shadows I: Nekuia for Orch. (1971), II: Lolita for Flute, 3 Cellos, 2 Percussionists, and 2 Harps (1972), and III: Nira for Violin, Flute, Oboe, Viola, Double Bass, Piano, and Harpsichord (1974–88); Spiral for Orch., with Amplified Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1975); Icicle for Flute (1977); Plainsong for Flute (1977); Folia for Woodwind Quintet (1980); Monody for Chorus (1983).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire