Aitken was born in New York City to Hugh Aitken Sr. and Florence Aitken. He grew up in the Bronx and attended Evander Child High School. There were artists of all kinds in his family; his father was a musician, playing the violin and also composing, his mother danced in vaudeville in her youth, one cousin was a radio, stage, and television actress (Joan Swenson) and another danced in the Balanchine company.[2] He studied chemistry for two years at New York University, but quit to join the Army. He served as a navigator in the Air Force in the Second World War, realized during the War that composing was his true vocation, so he used the GI Bill to enroll at Juilliard from 1946-50. He studied composition under Bernard Wagenaar, Vincent Persichetti, and Robert Ward, receiving a MS degree in 1950.[3] He married Laura Tapia (1924-2017) in 1946. Aitken taught at Juilliard from 1960 until 1970, and was then appointed Professor of Music at William Paterson College in New Jersey. He died at home in Oakland, New Jersey on Dec. 24, 2012. He is survived by children Peter Gil Aitken and Alexandra Elizabeth Aitken.
Aitken, Hugh. The Piece As a Whole: Studies in Holistic Musical Analysis. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 1997 ISBN9780313029745
Referencesedit
^. www.juilliard.edu. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14.
^ ab""Hugh Aitken " Butterworth, Neil, Dictionary of American Classical Composers. 2nd ed. New York and London: Routledge, 2005. ISBN0-415-93848-1 page 5
^ abRobert Skinner, "Hugh Aitken" New Grove Dictionary of American Music Macmillan, 1986 p.22-23
^Rockwell, John. "Music View; New Opera may have a Future After all." New York Times: A.1. Jan 02 1983. National Newspapers Premier. Web. 25 Feb. 2013 .
hugh, aitken, scottish, curler, curler, september, 1924, december, 2012, 20th, century, american, composer, contents, biography, major, works, stage, works, choral, works, instrumental, works, books, references, external, linksbiography, editaitken, born, york. For the Scottish curler see Hugh Aitken curler Hugh Aitken September 7 1924 December 24 2012 1 was a 20th century American composer Contents 1 Biography 2 Major works 2 1 Stage works 2 2 Choral works 3 Instrumental works 4 Books 5 References 6 External linksBiography editAitken was born in New York City to Hugh Aitken Sr and Florence Aitken He grew up in the Bronx and attended Evander Child High School There were artists of all kinds in his family his father was a musician playing the violin and also composing his mother danced in vaudeville in her youth one cousin was a radio stage and television actress Joan Swenson and another danced in the Balanchine company 2 He studied chemistry for two years at New York University but quit to join the Army He served as a navigator in the Air Force in the Second World War realized during the War that composing was his true vocation so he used the GI Bill to enroll at Juilliard from 1946 50 He studied composition under Bernard Wagenaar Vincent Persichetti and Robert Ward receiving a MS degree in 1950 3 He married Laura Tapia 1924 2017 in 1946 Aitken taught at Juilliard from 1960 until 1970 and was then appointed Professor of Music at William Paterson College in New Jersey He died at home in Oakland New Jersey on Dec 24 2012 He is survived by children Peter Gil Aitken and Alexandra Elizabeth Aitken He received commissions from the National Endowment for the Humanities the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Foundation the Naumburg Foundation the Juilliard School the Concord String Quartet Yoyo Ma Emmanuel Ax and the dancer Jose Limon 3 Major works editStage works edit Fables an opera based on La Fontaine s Fables 1975 Felipe an opera based on Al Tumulo del Rey Felipe en Sevilla by Miguel de Cervantes 1981 Review New York Times 4 Dance scores 1949 63 Choral works edit Mass settings 1950 1964 The Revelation of St John the Divine 1953 90 Instrumental works editPiano Concerto 1953 violin concertos 1984 1988 1992 Aspen Concerto recorded by Naxos Digital Services Ltd 2005 with Elmar Oliveira violinist and the SeattleSymphony Orchestra AR 0004 2 5 Symphony 1998 multiple chamber works 2 Books editAitken Hugh The Piece As a Whole Studies in Holistic Musical Analysis Westport Conn Greenwood Press 1997 ISBN 9780313029745References edit Composer Hugh Aitken Dies at 88 The Juilliard School www juilliard edu Archived from the original on 2014 07 14 a b Hugh Aitken Butterworth Neil Dictionary of American Classical Composers 2nd ed New York and London Routledge 2005 ISBN 0 415 93848 1 page 5 a b Robert Skinner Hugh Aitken New Grove Dictionary of American Music Macmillan 1986 p 22 23 Rockwell John Music View New Opera may have a Future After all New York Times A 1 Jan 02 1983 National Newspapers Premier Web 25 Feb 2013 WorldCatExternal links editList of compositions on WorldCat Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hugh Aitken amp oldid 1166819570, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
