Albert Chamberland
Encyclopedia
Albert Chamberland was a Canadian violin
ist, composer
, conductor
, music producer, and music educator. As a violinist he was highly active as a chamber music
ian with a number of notable ensembles, including the Beethoven Trio with whom he made some early recordings for His Master's Voice during the first decade of the 20th century. For HMV he also made a few solo recordings and was active as a concert soloist as well. He was an orchestral performer with a variety of orchestras, notably serving as the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
's first concertmaster
. His compositional output was relatively small, consisting of an Allegro militaire for band, a Sérénade for violin and piano, an Étude de concert d'après Rode, and a Fantaisie on the tune "Un Canadien errant
". He notably performed the latter work at the Monument national on 13 April 1926.
, Chamberland began his musical training in his native city with Jean A. Duquette before entering the conservatory at McGill University
where he was a pupil of Alfred De Sève
. His sister Luce was a concert pianist and was married to bass Ulysse Paquin. He began his career as a violin soloist in 1904 at the age of 18. He soon began playing in J.-J. Goulet's Montreal Symphony Orchestra (no relation to the current orchestra of that name). From 1907-1910 he was a member of the Beethoven Trio and from 1910-1920 he played in the Dubois String Quartet
.
In 1920 Chamberland helped found the Montreal Philharmonic Orchestra. That same year he was appointed the first violinist of the Chamberland String Quartet whose members also included Norman Herschorn (2nd violin), Eugène Chartier
(viola), and Raoul Duquette (cello). He played with that quartet through 1925. In 1932 he became a member of the Montreal Orchestra. He joined the newly formed Montreal Symphony Orchestra
in 1934, serving as the orchestra's concertmaster
(1934–1939) and then assistant conductor (1939–1948).
Chamberland worked as a music producer for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
from 1937-1952. Some of the programs he was responsible for producing were CBC Radio
's The Little Symphonies and Récital. He was also active as a music teacher throughout his career, teaching privately and on the music faculties of the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal, the Conservatoire national de musique
, and the Villa Maria School. He was also active as music competition judge. Among his notable students are Alexander Brott
, Isabelle Delorme
, René Gagnier
, Norman Herschorn, Lucien Martin
, and Romain-Octave Pelletier II
. He died in Montreal in 1975 at the age of 88.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, composer
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...
, conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, music producer, and music educator. As a violinist he was highly active as a chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
ian with a number of notable ensembles, including the Beethoven Trio with whom he made some early recordings for His Master's Voice during the first decade of the 20th century. For HMV he also made a few solo recordings and was active as a concert soloist as well. He was an orchestral performer with a variety of orchestras, notably serving as the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is a symphony orchestra based in Montréal, Québec, Canada, with Montréal's Place des Arts as its home.-History:...
's first concertmaster
Concertmaster
The concertmaster/mistress is the spalla or leader, of the first violin section of an orchestra. In the UK, the term commonly used is leader...
. His compositional output was relatively small, consisting of an Allegro militaire for band, a Sérénade for violin and piano, an Étude de concert d'après Rode, and a Fantaisie on the tune "Un Canadien errant
Un Canadien errant
"Un Canadien errant" is a song written in 1842 by Antoine Gérin-Lajoie after the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837-1838. Some of the rebels were condemned to death, others exiled to the United States . Gérin-Lajoie wrote the song, about the pain of exile, while taking his classical exams at the...
". He notably performed the latter work at the Monument national on 13 April 1926.
Life and career
Born in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Chamberland began his musical training in his native city with Jean A. Duquette before entering the conservatory at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
where he was a pupil of Alfred De Sève
Alfred De Sève
Alfred De Sève was a Canadian violinist, composer, and music educator. His compositional output includes works for violin and piano, solo piano, and orchestra; many of which were published by Arthur P. Schmidt and Charles H...
. His sister Luce was a concert pianist and was married to bass Ulysse Paquin. He began his career as a violin soloist in 1904 at the age of 18. He soon began playing in J.-J. Goulet's Montreal Symphony Orchestra (no relation to the current orchestra of that name). From 1907-1910 he was a member of the Beethoven Trio and from 1910-1920 he played in the Dubois String Quartet
Dubois String Quartet
The Dubois String Quartet was a Canadian string quartet that actively performed for 28 consecutive seasons from 1910 to 1938. The ensemble was founded and led by cellist Jean-Baptiste Dubois who was the only member of the group to play in every season. The other original members were violinists...
.
In 1920 Chamberland helped found the Montreal Philharmonic Orchestra. That same year he was appointed the first violinist of the Chamberland String Quartet whose members also included Norman Herschorn (2nd violin), Eugène Chartier
Eugène Chartier
Eugène Chartier was a Canadian violinist, violist, conductor, and teacher.Born in Montreal, Chartier studied the violin with Alfred De Sève and Oscar Martel. He played second violin with the Dubois String Quartet from 1915-20, and viola with the Chamberland String Quartet from 1920-25...
(viola), and Raoul Duquette (cello). He played with that quartet through 1925. In 1932 he became a member of the Montreal Orchestra. He joined the newly formed Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is a symphony orchestra based in Montréal, Québec, Canada, with Montréal's Place des Arts as its home.-History:...
in 1934, serving as the orchestra's concertmaster
Concertmaster
The concertmaster/mistress is the spalla or leader, of the first violin section of an orchestra. In the UK, the term commonly used is leader...
(1934–1939) and then assistant conductor (1939–1948).
Chamberland worked as a music producer for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
from 1937-1952. Some of the programs he was responsible for producing were CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
's The Little Symphonies and Récital. He was also active as a music teacher throughout his career, teaching privately and on the music faculties of the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal, the Conservatoire national de musique
Conservatoire national de musique
Conservatoire national de musique was a music conservatory in Montreal, Quebec that was actively providing higher education in music during the first eight decades of the 20th century...
, and the Villa Maria School. He was also active as music competition judge. Among his notable students are Alexander Brott
Alexander Brott
Alexander Brott, , born Joël Brod, , was a Canadian conductor, composer, violinist and music teacher. His wife Lotte was an accomplished cellist...
, Isabelle Delorme
Isabelle Delorme
Isabelle Delorme was a Canadian composer, pianist, and music educator. As a composer, her works are lyrical in nature and follow more traditional ideas of harmony as opposed to the avant-garde music that was in vogue in her day...
, René Gagnier
René Gagnier
René Gagnier was a Canadian conductor, composer, euphonium player, violinist, and music educator. His compositional output includes several marches, waltzes, works for solo violin, and some chamber and symphonic music; all of which remains unpublished.-Life and career:Born in Montreal, Gagnier was...
, Norman Herschorn, Lucien Martin
Lucien Martin
Lucien Martin was a Canadian violinist, conductor, and composer. Only one of his compositions was published, the art song La Chanson des belles, which was performed by Jeanne Desjardins in its premiere on the CBC Radio program Sérénade pour cordes.-Life and career:Born in Montreal, Martin was the...
, and Romain-Octave Pelletier II
Romain-Octave Pelletier II
Romain-Octave Pelletier II was a Canadian music critic, music producer, and violinist.-Early life and career:...
. He died in Montreal in 1975 at the age of 88.