Alain Gagnon
Encyclopedia
Alain Gagnon is a Canadian composer
and music educator. He joined the music faculty of the Université Laval
in 1967 where he has taught music theory
, music analysis
, and music composition for more than 40 years. A member of the Canadian League of Composers
and an associate of the Canadian Music Centre
, his works have been performed by notable ensembles throughout Canada. The Quebec Symphony Orchestra commissioned his Prélude and performed the works premiere in 1969 under conductor Pierre Dervaux
.
, Gagnon began teaching himself the piano
as a young child. At the age 13 he began taking his first music lessons at the Rimouski Seminary with Father Philippe-Antoine Lavoie with whom he studied from 1951-1958. In 1960 he entered the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec
where he was an organ
student with Henri Gagnon
.
After Henri Gagnon died in 1961, Alain transferred to the Université Laval
where he studied composition with Roger Matton
. He graduated from Laval with Bachelor of Music
in 1963 and a Master of Music
in composition in 1964. He continued with further studies privately under Jocelyne Binet
in 1964-1965. He was awarded the Governor-General's Medal in 1963 and was honored with a medal for the Government of France in 1964.
In 1965 Gagnon won the Prix d'Europe
and was awarded additional scholarships from the Canada Council
and the Quebec Ministry of Education. Those honours enabled him to pursue graduate studies in France at the École Normale de Musique de Paris
with Henri Dutilleux
and at the École César Franck
with Olivier Alain
in 1965-1966. He studied for a short period of time at the Institut de Sonologie of Utrecht in 1966 and in 1967 at the Geneva Conservatory with André-François Marescotti.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and music educator. He joined the music faculty of the Université Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
in 1967 where he has taught music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
, music analysis
Musical analysis
Musical analysis is the attempt to answer the question how does this music work?. The method employed to answer this question, and indeed exactly what is meant by the question, differs from analyst to analyst, and according to the purpose of the analysis. According to Ian Bent , analysis is "an...
, and music composition for more than 40 years. A member of the Canadian League of Composers
Canadian League of Composers
The Canadian League of Composers is an organization formed in 1951 of Canadian composers primarily interested in raising awareness and acceptance of Canadian music. The activities of the League are overseen and directed by an executive and a National Council...
and an associate of the Canadian Music Centre
Canadian Music Centre
The Canadian Music Centre holds Canada's largest collection of Canadian concert music. The CMC exists to promote the works of its Associate Composers in Canada and around the world....
, his works have been performed by notable ensembles throughout Canada. The Quebec Symphony Orchestra commissioned his Prélude and performed the works premiere in 1969 under conductor Pierre Dervaux
Pierre Dervaux
Pierre Dervaux was a French operatic conductor, composer, and pedagogue. At the Conservatoire de Paris, he studied counterpoint and harmony with Marcel Samuel-Rousseau and Jean and Noël Gallon, as well as piano with Isidor Philipp, Armand Ferté, and Yves Nat...
.
Life and career
Born in Trois-Pistoles, QuebecTrois-Pistoles, Quebec
Trois-Pistoles is a town in and the seat of the Les Basques Regional County Municipality within the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec. It is also the county seat. The town is located on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River....
, Gagnon began teaching himself the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
as a young child. At the age 13 he began taking his first music lessons at the Rimouski Seminary with Father Philippe-Antoine Lavoie with whom he studied from 1951-1958. In 1960 he entered the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec
Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec
The Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec is a music conservatory located in Quebec City, Quebec. Founded by the Quebec government in 1944, it became the second North American music institution of higher learning to be entirely state-subsidized...
where he was an organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
student with Henri Gagnon
Henri Gagnon
Henri Gagnon was a Canadian composer, organist, and music educator. He spent 51 years playing the organ at the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré where, according to music historian François Brassard, he earned "a prestige similar to that of the famous organists of Europe"...
.
After Henri Gagnon died in 1961, Alain transferred to the Université Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
where he studied composition with Roger Matton
Roger Matton
Roger Matton, OC was a Canadian composer, ethnomusicologist, and music educator. As a composer his works are characterized by their association with folklore and folkmusic. In 1965 he was awarded the Prix de la création at the Congrès du spectacle...
. He graduated from Laval with Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
in 1963 and a Master of Music
Master of Music
The Master of Music is the first graduate degree in Music awarded by universities and music conservatories. The M.Mus. combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization with graduate-level academic study in subjects such as music history, music theory, or music pedagogy...
in composition in 1964. He continued with further studies privately under Jocelyne Binet
Jocelyne Binet
Jocelyne Binet was a Canadian composer, pianist, and music educator. She studied in Montreal and Paris, France, and returned to compose and teach music in Canada.-Biography:...
in 1964-1965. He was awarded the Governor-General's Medal in 1963 and was honored with a medal for the Government of France in 1964.
In 1965 Gagnon won the Prix d'Europe
Prix d'Europe
The Prix d'Europe is a prestigious Canadian study grant that is funded by the Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec of the Government of Quebec. Established in 1911, the award has been distributed annually to a single individual through competition with the exception of 1960-1973 and 2009...
and was awarded additional scholarships from the Canada Council
Canada Council
The Canada Council for the Arts, commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown Corporation established in 1957 to act as an arts council of the government of Canada, created to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts. It funds Canadian artists and...
and the Quebec Ministry of Education. Those honours enabled him to pursue graduate studies in France at the École Normale de Musique de Paris
École Normale de Musique de Paris
The École Normale de Musique de Paris is a leading conservatoire located in Paris, France. The school was founded by Auguste Mangeot and pianist Alfred Cortot in 1919...
with Henri Dutilleux
Henri Dutilleux
Henri Dutilleux is one of the most important French composers of the second half of the 20th century, producing work in the tradition of Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, and Albert Roussel, but in a style distinctly his own...
and at the École César Franck
École César Franck
The École César-Franck was a music school founded in Paris in January 1935 by Guy de Lioncourt, Louis de Serres, Pierre de Bréville and Marcel Labey...
with Olivier Alain
Olivier Alain
Olivier Alain was a French organist, pianist, musicologist and composer.- Life :Olivier Alain was born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris, into a musical family. His father was the organist and composer Albert Alain , as well as his elder brother Jehan Alain , and his sister, French organist...
in 1965-1966. He studied for a short period of time at the Institut de Sonologie of Utrecht in 1966 and in 1967 at the Geneva Conservatory with André-François Marescotti.