Richard Hunt (pianist)

Richard Hunt (1930 – December 8, 2011) was a Canadian pianist and composer of British birth.[1] He is best known for his work with the Montreal ensemble Quartango.

Early life and education edit

Hunt was born in Great Britain. He was trained as a pianist at the Royal Academy of Music in London and at McGill University in Montreal where he was a pupil of István Anhalt, Bengt Hambraeus and Bruce Mather.

Career edit

As a soloist Hunt performed in concert with several notable ensembles in Canada, including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra[2] and the Quebec Contemporary Music Society. He is a former faculty member of McGill University.[3]

In 1983 Hunt became a founding member of the chamber ensemble Quartango[4] with whom he performed on the piano, made several commercial recordings and composed and arranged more than 100 works. He remained with the group until shortly before his death in 2011.[5]

Selected compositions edit

  • "Merkabah" (1973)[6]
  • “Milonga Céltica"[4]

Recordings edit

  • El Fuego (2009) with Quartango[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "Richard Hunt, composer in residence (1930-2011)". Quartango. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Quartango : Trois vies". Voir, Claude Côté 20 October 1999
  3. ^ Leonard Turnevicius (October 20, 2007). "Dance of desire captures the HPO Showtime". The Hamilton Spectator.
  4. ^ a b "Quartango: The musical bridge between two port cities". Montreal Times, November 3, 2013. by Sergio Martinez
  5. ^ "Group shares love affair with tango". St. Albert Gazette, By Anna Borowiecki Jan 15, 2011
  6. ^ Maurice Hinson. Music for More than One Piano: An Annotated Guide. Indiana University Press; 9 July 2001. ISBN 0-253-11306-7. p. 94.
  7. ^ "Quartango: un quart de siècle de feu et d'élégance". Le Devoir, October 7, 2009, Yves Bernard