Webster Aitken

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Webster Aitken (b. June 17, 1908, Los Angeles, California - d. May 11, 1981, Santa Fe, New Mexico) was an American pianist. He studied piano in Europe with Artur Schnabel and Emil von Sauer. In 1929, he made his professional debut in Vienna, Austria. Upon returning to America, he gave a concert in New York City on November 17, 1935. In 1938, Aitken presented a series of recitals in New York City in programs featuring the complete collection of Franz Schubert's works for piano. He subsequently devoted his time to teaching. A live recording of a recital Aitken gave of Beethoven's works was released on a Delos label LP, and in the early LP era he began to record all of Schubert's piano sonatas for EMS Records, in competition with the American Vox series by Friedrich Wührer; the latter came to fruition, becoming the first such cycle on records, but Aitkin's ended when his label went out of business.

[edit] See also

• List of classical pianists

[edit] References

• Baker's Biographical Dictionary of 20th Century Classical Musicians, Schirmer Books, 1997
• Records in Review 1960, Brattleboro, Vermont: George McKibbin & Co. (David Johnson, review of Schubert Sonatas performed by Beveridge Webster, MGM E 3711, reprinted from High Fidelity magazine)