20th century
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Solo repertoire
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Aitken Robert
Aitken, Robert
Amirov, Fikret
Amlin, Martin
Amram, David
Andriessen, Jurriaan
Arnold, Malcolm
Arrieu, Claude
Auric, Georges
Babbit, Milton
Bacchus, Peter
Bacri, Nicolas
Baker, Michael Conway
Baksa, Robert
Barber, Samuel
Barrere, Georges
Bartók, Béla Viktor János
Baton, René-Emmanuel
Beaser, Robert
Bennet, Richard Rodney
Berg, Gunnar
Berio, Luciano
Bernofsky, Lauren
Bernstein, Leonard
Bloch, Ernest
Bolling, Claude
Bon, Maarten
Bonis, Mel
Boughton, Rutland
Boulanger, Marie-Juliette
Boulez, Pierre
Bourdin, Roger
Bournonville, Armand
Bowen, Edwin York
Bozza, Eugène Joseph
Bréville, Pierre
Brings, Allen
Brotons, Salvador
Brown, Elizabeth
Brun, Georges
Burkhard, Willy
Burton, Eldin
Büsser, Henri
Camus, Pierre
Carmichael, John
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Casella, Alfredo
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Ferroud, Pierre-Octave
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Yun, Isang
Zgraja, Krystof
Plainsong for Flute solo
Plainsong for Flute solo
R. Aitken: "Plainsong" for solo flute was written in 1977 in Peterborough, New Hampshire. The idea of the piece comes from parallel fourths and fifths, typical for medieval plainsongs, with the possibility of enhancing an organum effect while simultaneously playing the flute and singing. Besides, it is possible to sound two notes an octave apart at the same time by controlling the air column. The "Plainsong" was premiered by Robert Aitken in Paris, at the Center Georges Pompidou.
Rober Aitken:
"I composed the "Plainsong" for solo flute in 1977 for the opening of IRCAM (Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics/Music) in Paris. During this opening week of concerts, there were different musicians in different rooms throughout the Conservatory where the public could go from room to room and listen to various performers as well as exchange ideas about the music among themselves.
And one of the topics was "What is it like to be a soloist today?"
And it is quite different to be a soloist in 1977 and now.
Because we have so many different styles we have to deal with. You may have to play jazz, amplified flute, or various noises, or even you may have to play on the end of the flute.
In 1977 we were supposed to write a piece for a specific occasion and I wrote "Plainsong" because I just discovered that it's possible to play two notes at the same time on the flute. And I used a tune from the old Grigorian chant"
You can listen/watch Robert's story by yourself or listen "Plainsong" live performance that starts at 02:26.
Aitken Robert
Robert Aitken (1939) is a prominent Canadian flutist, composer, and conductor who has been a central figure in contemporary music for over six decades. He is widely recognized for his championing of avant-garde techniques and his role in bridging North American and European musical traditions.
Born in Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada, began his flute studies in Canada. By age 19, he became the youngest principal flutist in the history of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Seeking to refine his craft at the highest level, Aitken traveled to Europe to study with the 20th century's most legendary flutists, including Marcel Moyse, Jean-Pierre Rampal, André Jaunet, and Severino Gazzelloni.
His approach to music was deeply shaped by his studies in composition with John Weinzweig and electronic music with Myron Schaeffer at the University of Toronto. After serving as principal flute of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (1965–1970), he left orchestral playing to focus on a global career as a soloist and composer. In 1971, he co-founded New Music Concerts in Toronto, bringing international avant-garde composers (such as Pierre Boulez and Toru Takemitsu) to Canadian audiences.
From 1988 to 2004, he served as a professor at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, Germany, influencing a generation of European and international flutists.
Aitken has written numerous compositions based on his experience as a skilled performer. His compositions often explore microtones, multiphonics, and non-traditional sound production. His works are frequently inspired by his travels and world cultures, such as the Japanese-influenced Shadows series. Among his most notable compositions are Concerto for Twelve Solo Instruments and Orchestra, various chamber music compositions, and works for flute.
In 2009, Aitken received the prestigious Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts, Canada’s largest arts award.