Background
Adaskin, Murray was born on March 28, 1906 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Son of Samuel and Nisha (Perstnyov) Adaskin.
Adaskin, Murray was born on March 28, 1906 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Son of Samuel and Nisha (Perstnyov) Adaskin.
Student, Royal Conservatory Music, Toronto, Canada and Paris. Student, Music Academy West. Student of Darius Milhaud, Aspen School Music, Colorado.
Doctor of Laws (honorary), University Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, 1970. Doctor of Music (honorary), Brandon University, 1972. Doctor of Music (honorary), University Windsor, Ontario, 1977.
Doctor of Music (honorary), University Victoria, British Columbia, 1984. Doctor of Laws (honorary), University Saskatoon, Saskatoon, 1984. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Brock University, 2000.
Many of his compositions were written while in Victoria after his retirement. He began his career playing the violin in silent film presentations in his native city. Afterwards, he was a violinist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 1923 to 1936.
From 1938 to 1952 he was with the Royal York Hotel trio.
He was head of the Department of Music at the University of Saskatchewan from 1952 to 1966, including four years as conductor of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. He then became the Composer-in-Residence until 1972, the first position of its type ever created at a Canadian university.
Among his notable pupils were composers Boyd McDonald, Paul Pedersen, Rodney Sharman and Timothy Williams. And violinist Andrew Dawes.
By 1972, he retired to Victoria where he started composing more than half his total of 130 compositions.
He died in 2002, just before the release of two CDs of a five-disc collection for his memory. He is the brother of Harry Adaskin, Leslie Adaskin and John Adaskin. lieutenant was announced on December 15, 1980 that he was awarded the Order of Canada.
Igor Stravinsky was a major inspiration for Adaskin.
"Stravinsky"s neo-classical and rugged rhythms echo through his work." Additionally, his training as a violinist affected his sense of melody. The melody of his compositions often seem abstract, similar to Canadian visual art from his early years.
His avid interest in Canadian visual art was expressed in his work: In Praise of Canadian Painting in the Thirties.
Board of directors Saskatoon Arts Ctr. 1966-1967. Member Royal Society Arts, Canada League Composers (founding), Saskatoon Musician's Association (honorary life), Toronto Musician'a Association (honorary life).
Married Frances James, July 16, 1931 (deceased August 1988). Married Asta Dorothea Larsen, May 7, 1989.