Robert Turner (composer)
Encyclopedia
Robert Comrie Turner is a Canadian composer
, radio
producer, and music educator. He graduated with a bachelors degree in music from McGill University
in 1943. While there he studied with Douglas Clarke
and Claude Champagne
. He continued his studies briefly at Colorado College
in 1947, where he met his wife, percussionist Sara Scott. They married in 1949. In 1947, Turner transferred to Peabody College
in Nashville, Tenn, where he studied with Roy Harris
. He graduated in 1950 with a Masters degree. During this time, Turner spent two summers studying with Herbert Howells
and Gordon Jacob
at the Royal College of Music
and one summer at the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood
studying with Olivier Messiaen
. He returned to McGill University in 1951, graduating with a doctorate two years later.
Turner worked as a CBC
Vancouver music producer 1952-68, where his responsibilities included the broadcasts of the CBC Vancouver Chamber Orchestra. He taught at the University of British Columbia
1955-7, at Acadia University
1968-9, and at the University of Manitoba
1969-85. He was appointed professor emeritus at the University of Manitoba
upon his retirement in 1985. Several of his students have gone on to have successful careers including Peter Allen
, Patrick Carrabré, Jim Hiscott
, Diana McIntosh
and Glenn Buhr.
Among his numerous works are two operas: The Brideship (1967) and Vile Shadows (1983).
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
producer, and music educator. He graduated with a bachelors degree in music from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in 1943. While there he studied with Douglas Clarke
Douglas Clarke
Douglas Clarke was a Danish-born English cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler who played for Bedfordshire....
and Claude Champagne
Claude Champagne
Claude Champagne was a Canadian composer.Born in Montreal, Quebec, he studied violin with Albert Chamberland, organ with Orpha-F. Deveaux, and piano with Romain-Octave Pelletier I and Alexis Contant at the Conservatoire national de musique. In 1921 he went straight to Paris to study music...
. He continued his studies briefly at Colorado College
Colorado College
The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
in 1947, where he met his wife, percussionist Sara Scott. They married in 1949. In 1947, Turner transferred to Peabody College
Peabody College
Peabody College of Education and Human Development was founded in 1875 when the University of Nashville, located in Nashville, Tennessee, split into two separate educational institutions...
in Nashville, Tenn, where he studied with Roy Harris
Roy Harris
Roy Ellsworth Harris , was an American composer. He wrote much music on American subjects, becoming best known for his Symphony No...
. He graduated in 1950 with a Masters degree. During this time, Turner spent two summers studying with 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:...
and Gordon Jacob
Gordon Jacob
Gordon Percival Septimus Jacob was an English composer. He is known for his wind instrument composition and his instructional writings.-Life:...
at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
and one summer at the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood
Tanglewood
Tanglewood is an estate and music venue in Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is the home of the annual summer Tanglewood Music Festival and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, and has been the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1937. It was the venue of the Berkshire Festival.- History...
studying with Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen was a French composer, organist and ornithologist, one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex ; harmonically and melodically it is based on modes of limited transposition, which he abstracted from his early compositions and improvisations...
. He returned to McGill University in 1951, graduating with a doctorate two years later.
Turner worked as a CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
Vancouver music producer 1952-68, where his responsibilities included the broadcasts of the CBC Vancouver Chamber Orchestra. He taught at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
1955-7, at Acadia University
Acadia University
Acadia University is a predominantly undergraduate university located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada with some graduate programs at the master's level and one at the doctoral level...
1968-9, and at the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
1969-85. He was appointed professor emeritus at the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
upon his retirement in 1985. Several of his students have gone on to have successful careers including Peter Allen
Peter Allen (composer)
Peter Allen is a Canadian composer, organist, and keyboard player. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre and a member of the Canadian League of Composers, his compositions encompass a broad repertoire from film scores and commercial jingles to sacred music and avant-garde electroacoustic music...
, Patrick Carrabré, Jim Hiscott
Jim Hiscott
James Michael Hiscott is a Canadian composer, radio producer, and accordionist. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre and a member of the Canadian League of Composers, his compositions are characterized by their strong rhythmic base, standard harmonic language, and merger of world music with...
, Diana McIntosh
Diana McIntosh
Diana McIntosh is a contemporary Canadian composer and pianist who is currently based in Winnipeg, Manitoba...
and Glenn Buhr.
Among his numerous works are two operas: The Brideship (1967) and Vile Shadows (1983).