Robert Comrie Turner, (6 June 1920 – 26 January 2012) was a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

composer,

radio Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transm ...

producer, and

music educator Music education is a field of practice in which educators are trained for careers as elementary or secondary music teachers, school or music conservatory ensemble directors. Music education is also a research area in which scholars do original ...

. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in music from

McGill University McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter granted by King George IV,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill Universit ...

in 1943. While there he studied with Douglas Clarke and Claude Champagne. He continued his studies briefly at

Colorado College Colorado College is a private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell in his daughter's memory. The college enrolls approxi ...

in 1947, where he met his wife, percussionist Sara Scott. They married in 1949. In 1947, Turner transferred to Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee, where he studied with

Roy Harris Roy Ellsworth Harris (February 12, 1898 – October 1, 1979) was an American composer. He wrote music on American subjects, and is best known for his Symphony No. 3. Life Harris was born in Chandler, Oklahoma on February 12, 1898. His ancest ...

. He graduated in 1950 with a master's degree. During this time, Turner spent two summers studying with

Herbert Howells Herbert Norman Howells (17 October 1892 – 23 February 1983) was an English composer, organist, and teacher, most famous for his large output of Anglican church music. Life Background and early education Howells was born in Lydney, Glouces ...

and

Gordon Jacob Gordon Percival Septimus Jacob CBE (5 July 18958 June 1984) was an English composer and teacher. He was a professor at the Royal College of Music in London from 1924 until his retirement in 1966, and published four books and many articles about ...

at the

Royal College of Music The Royal College of Music is a music school, conservatoire established by royal charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, UK. It offers training from the Undergraduate education, undergraduate to the Doctorate, doctoral level in a ...

and one summer at the Berkshire Music Center at

Tanglewood Tanglewood is a music venue in the towns of Lenox and Stockbridge in the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts. It has been the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1937. Tanglewood is also home to three music schools: the ...

studying with

Olivier Messiaen Olivier Eugène Prosper Charles Messiaen (, ; ; 10 December 1908 – 27 April 1992) was a French composer, organist, and ornithologist who was one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex; harmonical ...

. 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 The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public university, public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, it is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks a ...

1955-7, at

Acadia University Acadia University is a public, predominantly undergraduate university located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada, with some graduate programs at the master's level and one at the doctoral level. The enabling legislation consists of the Acadia ...

1968-9, and at the

University of Manitoba The University of Manitoba (U of M, UManitoba, or UM) is a Canadian public research university in the province of Manitoba.University of Manitoba The University of Manitoba (U of M, UManitoba, or UM) is a Canadian public research university in the province of Manitoba.Peter Allen, Pat Carrabré, Jim Hiscott, Diana McIntosh and

Glenn Buhr Glenn Buhr (born December 18, 1954) is a Canadian composer, pianist and conductor,Evan Ware and Robin Elliott"Glenn Buhr" ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'', March 10, 2009. who has been active in both classical music and jazz music. Early life and ed ...

. Among his numerous works are two

operas Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libre ...

: ''The Brideship'' (1967) and ''Vile Shadows'' (1983). Turner was appointed a Member of the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the c ...

in 2002. Turner died on 26 January 2012, in Winnipeg. Robert Turner's family and friends published a memorial and archive website which includes tributes from students and colleagues, audio samples, a list of compositions, and an extensive bibliography. The website can be found at robert-turner.com.

Selected works

;Stage * ''The Brideship'', Opera in 1 act, 3 scenes (1966–1967); libretto by

George Woodcock George Woodcock (; May 8, 1912 – January 28, 1995) was a Canadian writer of political biography and history, an anarchist thinker, a philosopher, an essayist and literary critic. He was also a poet and published several volumes of travel writ ...

* ''Vile Shadows'', Opera in 2 acts for soloists and wind quintet (1982–1983, revised 1998); libretto after the play of the same name by Norman Newton ;Orchestral * ''Opening Night'', Theatre Overture (1955) * ''Lyric Interlude'' (1956) * ''Nocturne'' (1956, 1965); original version for piano solo * ''A Children's Overture'' (1958); suitable for youth and community orchestras * ''The Pemberton Valley'', Suite (1958) * ''Symphony for Strings'' for string orchestra (1960) * ''3 Episodes'' (1963) * ''Moerae'' (1963) * ''Eidolons'', 12 Images for 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'' for string orchestra (1989) * Symphony No. 3 (1990) * ''House of Shadows'', A Symphonic Synthesis after the Opera ''Vile Shadows'' (1994) * ''Diverti-memento'' for chamber orchestra (1997) * ''Festival Dance'' (1997) ;Band * ''Robbins' Round'', Concertino for jazz band (1959) ;Concertante * Concerto for 2 pianos and orchestra (1971) * ''Chamber Concerto'' for bassoon and 17 instruments (1973) * ''Capriccio Concertante'' for cello, piano and orchestra (1975) * ''From a Different Country: Homage to Gabrieli'' for solo brass quintet and orchestra (1976) * ''Encounters'' for soloists and orchestra (1985) :# ''Flutenanny'', Encounter I for flute, string orchestra and harp :# ''Spring Greeting'', Encounter II for clarinet, string orchestra and piano :# ''Shadows, Like Lost Souls'', Encounter III for violin and orchestra :# ''A Great Quiet and a Still Home'', Encounter IV for cello and orchestra :# ''Ebb Tide'', Encounter V for voice (high or low) and orchestra; words by

Marjorie Pickthall Marjorie Lowry Christie Pickthall (14 September 1883, in Gunnersbury, London – 22 April 1922, in Vancouver), was a Canadian writer who was born in England but lived in Canada from the time she was seven.Barbara Godard,Pickthall, Marjorie Lowr ...

:# ''The Wind's and the Wave's Riot'', Encounter VI for piano and orchestra :# ''Shepherd on the Make'', Encounter VII for oboe, string orchestra and percussion :# ''The Old Sea's Pride'', Encounter VIII for horn and orchestra :# ''The Strong Thunder of the Full Straits'', Encounter IX for trombone and orchestra * Concerto for viola and orchestra (1986–1987) * ''A Group of Seven: Poems of Love and Nature by Canadian Poets'' for viola, narrator and orchestra (1991) ;Chamber music * String Quartet No. 1 (1949) * ''Lament'' for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and piano (1951) * String Quartet No. 2 (1954) * Sonata for violin and piano (1956) * ''Little Suite'' for harp (1957) * ''Vignette'' for clarinet, 2 violins, viola and cello (1958, revised 1988) * ''Variations and Toccata'' for flute (piccolo), oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, 2 violins, viola, cello and double bass (1959) * ''Serenade'' for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon (1960) * ''4 Fragments'' for 2 trumpets, horn and 2 trombones (1961) * ''Fantasia'' for organ, brass quintet and timpani (1962) * ''Diversities'' for violin, bassoon and piano (1967) * ''Transition'', Trio for violin, cello and piano (1969) * ''Fantasy and Festivity'' for harp (1970) * ''Nostalgia'' for soprano saxophone and piano (1972) * String Quartet No. 3 (1975) * ''Lament for Linos'', An Elegiac Triptych for flute (piccolo), clarinet (E-flat clarinet), piano (celesta), prepared tape and slides (1978); words by

Rainer Maria Rilke René Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke (4 December 1875 – 29 December 1926), shortened to Rainer Maria Rilke (), was an Austrian poet and novelist. He has been acclaimed as an idiosyncratic and expressive poet, and is widely recog ...

* ''Shadow Pieces'' for flute, bassoon, violin, cello and piano (1981) * ''Bitonal Wedding'', 3 Fanfares for 2 trumpets (1997) ;Keyboard * ''Sonata Lyrica'' for piano (1955, revised 1963) * ''Nocturne'' for piano (1956); orchestrated in 1965 * ''Dance of the Disenchanted'' for piano (1959, 1988) * ''6 Voluntaries'' for organ (1959) * ''A Merry-Mournful (Major-Minor) Mood'' for piano (1971) * ''Wedding March'' for organ or piano (1977) * ''Vestiges'', 3 Pieces for piano (1987) ;Vocal * ''Eclogue: The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd'' for voice, oboe (or flute, or clarinet, or violin), and harpsichord (or piano) (1958); words by

Sir Walter Raleigh Sir Walter Raleigh (; – 29 October 1618) was an English statesman, soldier, writer and explorer. One of the most notable figures of the Elizabethan era, he played a leading part in English colonisation of North America, suppressed rebellio ...

* ''4 Songs'' for tenor and orchestra (1959) * ''The Phoenix and the Turtle'' for mezzo-soprano, flute, bass clarinet, clarinet, string trio, celesta and harp (1964); words by

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...

* ''Suite in Homage to Melville'' for soprano, alto, viola and piano (1966); words by

Herman Melville Herman Melville (born Melvill; August 1, 1819 – September 28, 1891) was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet of the American Renaissance period. Among his best-known works are ''Moby-Dick'' (1851); '' Typee'' (1846), a r ...

* ''Four Songs'' for voice and orchestra (1969); words from ''Friday's Child'' by Wilfred Watson * ''Johann's Gift to Christmas'' for narrator and orchestra (1972) * ''Ebb Tide'', Encounter V for voice (high or low) and orchestra (1985); words by

* ''Time for Three'', 3 Songs for mezzo-soprano, viola and piano (1985); words by

John Milton John Milton (9 December 1608 – 8 November 1674) was an English poet and intellectual. His 1667 epic poem ''Paradise Lost'', written in blank verse and including over ten chapters, was written in a time of immense religious flux and polit ...

and anonymous * ''Four "Last Songs"'' for voice, violin and piano (1995); words by

Francis Ledwidge Francis Edward Ledwidge (19 August 188731 July 1917) was a 20th-century Irish poet. From Slane, County Meath, and sometimes known as the "poet of the blackbirds", he was later also known as a First World War war poet. He befriended the establish ...

;Choral * ''2 Choral Pieces'' for mixed chorus (1952); words by

Wallace Stevens Wallace Stevens (October 2, 1879 – August 2, 1955) was an American modernist poet. He was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, educated at Harvard and then New York Law School, and spent most of his life working as an executive for an insurance comp ...

and

E. E. Cummings Edward Estlin Cummings, who was also known as E. E. Cummings, e. e. cummings and e e cummings (October 14, 1894 - September 3, 1962), was an American poet, painter, essayist, author and playwright. He wrote approximately 2,900 poems, two autobi ...

* ''Mobile'' for mixed chorus and percussion (1960); words by Elder Olson * ''Prophetic Song'' for female chorus a cappella (1961); words by

Percy Bysshe Shelley Percy Bysshe Shelley ( ; 4 August 17928 July 1822) was one of the major English Romantic poets. A radical in his poetry as well as in his political and social views, Shelley did not achieve fame during his lifetime, but recognition of his ach ...

* ''The Third Day'', Cantata for 2 sopranos, contralto, tenor, baritone, mixed chorus and orchestra (1962) * ''The House of Christmas'', 4 Carols for mixed chorus (1963); words by G. K. Chesterton * ''5 Canadian Folk Songs from the Maritimes and Newfoundland'' for soprano and mixed chorus (1973) * ''10 Canadian Folk Songs'' for voice and piano (1973) or voice and orchestra (1980) * ''Amoroso Canto'' for mixed chorus a cappella (1978); words by

Paul Verlaine Paul-Marie Verlaine (; ; 30 March 1844 – 8 January 1896) was a French poet associated with the Symbolist movement and the Decadent movement. He is considered one of the greatest representatives of the ''fin de siècle'' in international and F ...

Louis Dudek Louis Dudek, (February 6, 1918 – March 23, 2001) was a Canadian poet, academic, and publisher known for his role in defining Modernism in poetry, and for his literary criticism. He was the author of over two dozen books. In ''A Digital Hist ...

Guillaume Apollinaire Guillaume Apollinaire) of the Wąż coat of arms. (; 26 August 1880 – 9 November 1918) was a French French poetry, poet, playwright, short story writer, novelist, and art critic of Polish-Belarusian, Polish descent. Apollinaire is considered ...

and

Thomas Hardy Thomas Hardy (2 June 1840 – 11 January 1928) was an English novelist and poet. A Victorian realist in the tradition of George Eliot, he was influenced both in his novels and in his poetry by Romanticism, including the poetry of William Wo ...

* ''River of Time'' for mixed chorus and orchestra (1994); words by

Matthew Arnold Matthew Arnold (24 December 1822 – 15 April 1888) was an English poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, the celebrated headmaster of Rugby School, and brother to both Tom Arnold, li ...

;Television scores * ''Object Matrimony'', Television play (1958) * ''The Pemberton Valley'', Documentary (1958) * ''Yosef Drenters'', Documentary (1961)

References

External links

www.robert-turner.com (Memorial & Biographical Archive)

Canadian Music Centre Biography

The Canadian Encyclopedia Biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Turner, Robert 1920 births 2012 deaths Canadian classical composers Canadian opera composers Members of the Order of Canada Musicians from Montreal Peabody College alumni McGill University School of Music alumni University of British Columbia faculty Acadia University faculty University of Manitoba faculty Canadian male classical composers Male opera composers 20th-century Canadian composers 20th-century Canadian male musicians