Schafer, R Murray (1933– )

Canadian composer and teacher. His works employ electronics and involve transformation and motivic distortion.

He studied in Toronto and Vienna and worked in England as a journalist.

Works Opera Loving/Toi (staged Toronto, 1978).

Choral and voice with orchestra Minnelieder for mezzo and wind quintet (1956); St Jean de Brebeuf for baritone and orchestra (1961); Requiems for the Party Girl for soprano and nine instruments (1966); From the Tibetan Book of the Dead for soprano, chorus, and ensemble (1968); The Son of Heldenleben after a work by Strauss (1968); Sappho for mezzo and ensemble (1970); four string quartets (1970, 1976, 1989, 1988); In Search of Zoroaster for male voice, chorus, and percussion (1971). Adieu, Robert Schumann for mezzo and orchestra (after Clara Schumann's diaries detailing her husband's madness, 1976); Apocalypsis for soloist, chorus, and orchestra (after St John the Divine, 1980);

Other flute concerto (1985); series of multimedia theatre pieces, including The Black Theatre of Hermes (1989), The Crown of Ariadne (1992).