R. Murray Schafer

R. Murray Schafer became known in the 1970s as Canada's premier composer, though he was known equally well outside that country for both his educational theories and for developing the idea of the "soundscape." His major compositional endeavor was Patria, a series of 12 theatrical/operatic works begun in 1966. His music and writing reflected an omnivorous -- and almost totally self-directed -- education and always a concern for the human scale in music and society. Schafer began studies rather diffidently (being unsure whether he would rather be an artist) at the University ...