Lindsay Aked

Lives in NSW Australia, Australia

Lindsay Aked completed his musical training at the N.S.W. State Conservatorium of Music at a time when it was directed by Sir Eugene Goossens. He served as a Classroom Music teacher for several years before being transferred to Head Office of the N.S.W. Dept. of Education as Supervisor of Instrumental Music, responsible for the development of the State's Instrumental Music Programme, which, at that time, was largely based on the classroom use of the Recorder. During this time he was often called upon to produce music to suit particular groups, and also to arrange music for the A.B.C. Educational Broadcasts. By 1975 the State's Programme had been expanded to include many orchestras and Bands though the Recorder was still in evidence, particularly in the Primary School.

Because of the nature of his employment most of Lindsay Aked's music has been directed at children, including a number of song cycles which have been performed both in the classroom and in the Sydney Opera House. However, he has also composed for the Sydney and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras. His first 'serious' instrumental work was Divertimento for descant recorder and keyboard, which was published in 1975, and since then (with the encouragement and support of Helen and Howard Oberg) he has produced a number of works covering various stages of development in recorder playing. Some of these are included in current AMEB syllabuses.

Lindsay Aked's style of composition remains essentially melodic and clearly structured. He aims at producing music which is a suitable challenge to particular stages of development and which, at the same time, is enjoyable both for performer and listener. It has been said that his music is somewhat reminiscent of Elgar, Vaughan Williams and other English composers, which he regards as a compliment rather than a criticism.