Robert Jordan

Jordan, Robert

Robert (Christopher) Jordan. Guitarist, teacher, b Oxford 22 Jul 1933, naturalized Canadian 1957. He studied violin 1949-52 with Charles de Reyghere in Bedford. He began his career as an orchestral violinist shortly after his arrival in Canada in 1952, but in 1954 began to teach himself to play the guitar and subsequently studied in 1964 and 1966-7 in Spain with Eduardo Sainz de la Maza. In 1956 he moved to Edmonton and was a violinist 1958-65 with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. In 1960 he founded guitar societies in both Edmonton and Calgary and 1963-5 he was on the faculty (part-time) at Mount Royal College, Calgary and also at Alberta College, Edmonton, introducing the guitar program at both institutions. In Edmonton he performed on CBC radio with Harlan Greene, flute, and Ernest Dolwood, clarinet ('Prairie Chamber Music' 1964) and on CBC TV ('A World of Music with ZuZu [Savarin]'), on the latter series acting as soloist, arranger, and accompanist. He continued his studies 1965-7 at the University of British Columbia, and in the summer of 1967 worked with Julian Bream at Stratford, Ont. In Vancouver he founded a guitar society in 1966, and in 1969 opened the Classical Guitar Centre (Michael Dunn and Michael Strutt were also involved), remaining until 1976, when he joined the faculty of the Vancouver Academy of Music. He continued to perform for CBC radio and CBC TV. He premiered Stephen Pedersen's Duet for Guitar and Sunflower 16 Jan 1974 and Arthur Lewis' Short Piece for Guitar 27 Feb 1974 and has also appeared at US festivals. Jordan also joined the faculty of the University of British Columbia in 1978. He formed the Giuliani Ensemble in 1981 (an ad hoc group of various Vancouver musicians), and the Panormo Guitar Trio in 1987 with Paul McDermott, Bruce Clausen (to 1990), and Michael Strutt (from 1990). Jordan has recorded as an accompanist to Phyllis Mailing. His interest in contemporary music has not wavered, and though he has remained active as a performer, particularly as chamber musician and accompanist, he has become increasingly devoted to teaching. In both capacities he has made a significant contribution to the currency of music for the guitar and to its acceptance as a legitimate solo and ensemble instrument.