FEATURED COMPOSER:

ROBERT TURNER

FEATURED WORKS:

ORCHESTRAL
Symphony For Strings
Opening Night (A Theatre Overture)
Lyric Interlude
Nocturne
A Children's Overture

CHAMBER
Variations and Toccata
String Quartet No. 2
String Quintet

ORGAN
Six Voluntaries

Berandol Music is pleased to feature the works of Canadian composer, producer and educator Robert Turner who celebrates his 90th birthday on June 6, 2010. Dr. Turner presently lives in Vancouver with Sarah Scott, his wife of over 60 years and is the recipient of many prestigious awards for his valuable contributions to Canadian culture and music, culminating in his appointment to the Order of Canada in 2003.

Robert Turner was born into a musical family in Montreal in 1920 and began his studies at McGill Conservatory of Music. He went on to complete degrees at McGill University and Peabody College in Nashville, Tenn. with studies along the way at The Royal College Of Music in London and at the Berkshire Music Center in Tanglewood, Mass.

In 1952 Dr. Turner joined the CBC as Music Producer in Vancouver where he was responsible for major CBC programs featuring high quality "live" music, both classical and contemporary. He later taught at several universities between 1955 and 1985 when he retired and was appointed Professor Emeritus at the University of Manitoba.

Robert Turner has created over 70 compositions in all forms from symphonic and chamber works to operatic, vocal and ensemble pieces. He received many commissions from prominent organizations with many of his works being performed by distinguished musicians.

Dr. Turner's compositions are considered eclectic and reflect a variety of influences such as jazz, folk and dance music. He has described his own music as "tonal" and "lyrical" exhibiting a strong command of mood and evocation. He believes that music should be "precisely notated, emotional in content and listener-oriented". His Symphony For Strings was nominated for a Juno in 2005 and his Lyric Interlude is often compared to Barber's Adagio For Strings.

Berandol Music salutes this illustrious Canadian composer by featuring some of his best compositions, including the well-known overture Opening Night (available on the 2004 CD ROBERT TURNER by Centrediscs) which is to be performed this coming fall on several occasions by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.