Alfred Fisher

Education

Alfred Fisher studied piano with Alfred Kanwischer and Pierre Luboshutz, composition with George Crumb, Douglas Moore, John Pozdro, and H. Owen Reed, and musicology with Hans Nathan. He obtained a B MUS from Boston University (1968), as well as a M MUS (1967) and a PH D (1976) from Michigan State University.

Career Highlights

Alfred Fisher successively taught at Michigan State University (1965–68), at the University of Western Ontario (now Western University; 1969–72), at the University of Saskatchewan (1972–73) and at Acadia University (1973–78), obtaining Canadian citizenship in 1974. In 1978, he became chairman of the theory and composition division at the University of Alberta. He was associate chairman of the Department of Music at the University of Alberta from 1984 to 1985, and chairman from 1986 to 1989.

Fisher wrote works for the Radio Telefis Eireann Symphony (Elegiac Variations), NOVA MUSIC (The Owl at Dusk), the International Suzuki Association (Peace Variations), the Eckhardt-Gramatté Competition (The Nameless Dances; see S.C. Eckhardt-Grammaté) and the CBC (Diary of a War Artist, inspired by the war art of Alex Colville), among others. Many of his compositions have been broadcast by CBC radio. Fisher is the founder and director of PING, the University of Alberta New Music Improvisational Ensemble. He was also an accompanist and conductor at the university. In March 1989 he was the soloist in a performance of Bach's Concerto in F minor.

Fisher was an associate of the Canadian Music Centre and a member of the CLComp.

Selected Compositions

Orchestra

Elegiac Variations (1976)

Morning: Peniel (1980)

Ouverture Petillante (1983)

Warrior (1984)

Peace Variations (1985)

Chamber

To A Gentle Poet (1977)

Four Movements for Unaccompanied Clarinet (1978)

Five Movements for Bassoon and Cello (1980)

Credo (1981)

Parables and Canons (1982)

Sweet for Flute (1982)

Small Worlds (1984)

The Nameless Dances (1987)

Diary of a War Artist (1989)

Piano

Fantasy Pieces (1982)

Vocal and Choral

Lamentation Canticle (1970)

Cry Wolf (after a Cree Legend) (1977)

The Owl At Dusk “Five Scenes on Yiddish Poetry” (1978)

Shema Yisrael/Hear O Israel (Bible) (1979)

Psalm 85 (1979)

Two Last Words (W. Martin) (1984)

Wanderers (1986)