Boyd McDonald
Encyclopedia
Boyd McDonald is a Canadian pianist
, fortepianist, composer
, and music educator. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre
, his compositional output includes works for choir
s, band
s, orchestra
s, and art song
s. His works have been performed throughout Canada and Europe by ensembles like the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
, the Renaissance Singers, the Scholars of London, Symphony Hamilton, the Waterloo Chamber Players, and the Wellington Winds among others.
(music composition) and Lyell Gustin (piano). A grant from the Canada Council
enabled him to pursue further studies in Paris from 1957-1960 with Nadia Boulanger
(composition) and Jean Casadesus
(piano). He also studied composition in the summers with John Cage
, Darius Milhaud
, and Stefan Wolpe
. In 1963 he won the Leschetizky Debut Prize which led to his New York City recital debut at Town Hall
.
In 1966 McDonald formed a piano duo with Garth Beckett, and the pair continued to perform together up through the 1990s. The duo notably toured North America and Europe together on several occasions. They made their London debut at Wigmore Hall
in 1972 and their New York debut at Alice Tully Hall
in 1978. The pair notably commissioned works by such composers as Bruce Mather
, Robert Turner
, Jack Behrens
, and Owen Underhill
. In 1967 both men joined the music faculty of the University of Manitoba
where they studied the duo piano repertoire with Alma Brock-Smith while teaching. They left the UM in 1976 to join the faculty at Wilfrid Laurier University
(WLU). At WLU McDonald was co-ordinator of the summer baroque and classical workshop in addition to teaching classes in piano and music theory. He continues to teach part-time at the WLU as a professor emeritus.
McDonald began to pursue studies in the music of the 18th- and early 19th-century fortepiano during the early 1980s. He obtained a Steinway instrument that replicated a five-octave, mid-1780s fortepiano in 1984. In 1886 he toured Manitoba and Saskatchewan giving lecture/recials in the fortepiano repertoire. In 1888 he acquired an 1816 six-and-a-half-octave Streicher piano. In 1989 he toured Nova Scotia as a member of the Mannheim Trio with soprano Valerie Kinslow and clarinetist Sherman Friedland
. He gave a fortepiano recital tour throughout Canada in 1990; notably including in his repertoire works written for him by Behrens and Underhill. He was also busy performing with the Classical Trio during the 1980s and 1990s, a chamber group he formed with baroque violinist Jeanne Lamon
and baroque cellist Christina Mahler. He also made several appearances at the Boston Early Music Festival
serving as baritone David Falk
's accompianist. He also appeared numerous times as a soloist on the CBC Radio
program Two New Hours.
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, fortepianist, 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...
, and music educator. 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 compositional output includes works for choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
s, band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
s, orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
s, and art song
Art song
An art song is a vocal music composition, usually written for one voice with piano or orchestral accompaniment. By extension, the term "art song" is used to refer to the genre of such songs....
s. His works have been performed throughout Canada and Europe by ensembles like the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
The Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony is a Canadian orchestra based in the twin cities of Kitchener and Waterloo, Ontario. Its home venue is Centre In The Square in Kitchener, Ontario. Music Directors and Principal Conductors have included Raffi Armenian , Chosei Komatsu , Martin Fischer-Dieskau and...
, the Renaissance Singers, the Scholars of London, Symphony Hamilton, the Waterloo Chamber Players, and the Wellington Winds among others.
Life and career
Born in Tuberose, Saskatchewan, McDonald studied at the The Royal Conservatory of Music where he earned an Associate diploma in 1951 and a Licentiate diploma in 1953. Among his teachers were Murray AdaskinMurray Adaskin
-External links:*...
(music composition) and Lyell Gustin (piano). A grant 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...
enabled him to pursue further studies in Paris from 1957-1960 with Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger was a French composer, conductor and teacher who taught many composers and performers of the 20th century.From a musical family, she achieved early honours as a student at the Paris Conservatoire, but believing that her talent as a composer was inferior to that of her younger...
(composition) and Jean Casadesus
Jean Casadesus
Jean Casadesus was a French classical pianist. He was the son of the renowned pianists Robert and Gaby Casadesus, and grandnephew of Henri Casadesus and Marius Casadesus.Jean Casadesus was born in Paris...
(piano). He also studied composition in the summers with John Cage
John Cage
John Milton Cage Jr. was an American composer, music theorist, writer, philosopher and artist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde...
, Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud was a French composer and teacher. He was a member of Les Six—also known as The Group of Six—and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. His compositions are influenced by jazz and make use of polytonality...
, and Stefan Wolpe
Stefan Wolpe
Stefan Wolpe was a German-born composer.-Life:Wolpe was born in Berlin. He attended the Klindworth-Scharwenka Conservatory from the age of fourteen, and the Berlin Hochschule für Musik in 1920-1921. He studied composition under Franz Schreker and was also a pupil of Ferruccio Busoni...
. In 1963 he won the Leschetizky Debut Prize which led to his New York City recital debut at Town Hall
The Town Hall
The Town Hall is a performance space, located at 123 West 43rd Street, between Sixth Avenue and Broadway, in New York City. It seats approximately 1,500 people.-History:...
.
In 1966 McDonald formed a piano duo with Garth Beckett, and the pair continued to perform together up through the 1990s. The duo notably toured North America and Europe together on several occasions. They made their London debut at Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall is a leading international recital venue that specialises in hosting performances of chamber music and is best known for classical recitals of piano, song and instrumental music. It is located at 36 Wigmore Street, London, UK and was built to provide London with a venue that was both...
in 1972 and their New York debut at Alice Tully Hall
Alice Tully Hall
Alice Tully Hall is a concert hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. It is named for Alice Tully, a New York performer and philanthropist whose donations assisted in the construction of the hall...
in 1978. The pair notably commissioned works by such composers as Bruce Mather
Bruce Mather
Bruce Mather is a Canadian composer, pianist, and writer who is particularly known for his contributions to contemporary classical music. One of the most notable composers of microtonal music, he was awarded the Jules Léger Prize twice, first in 1979 for his Musique pour Champigny and again in...
, Robert Turner
Robert Turner (composer)
Robert Comrie Turner is a Canadian composer, radio producer, and music educator. He graduated with a bachelors degree in music from McGill University in 1943. While there he studied with Douglas Clarke and Claude Champagne. He continued his studies briefly at Colorado College in 1947, where he met...
, Jack Behrens
Jack Behrens
Jack Behrens is a Canadian composer, music educator, and writer of American birth. A member of the Canadian League of Composers and an associate of the Canadian Music Centre, his music has been performed throughout North America and on CBC Radio and radio stations in he United States...
, and Owen Underhill
Owen Underhill
Owen Underhill is a Canadian composer, flutist and conductor based in Vancouver. He is currently a professor of music at Simon Fraser University...
. In 1967 both men joined the music faculty of the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
where they studied the duo piano repertoire with Alma Brock-Smith while teaching. They left the UM in 1976 to join the faculty at Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University is a university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It also has campuses in Brantford, Ontario, Kitchener, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario and a future proposed campus in Milton, Ontario. It is named in honour of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada....
(WLU). At WLU McDonald was co-ordinator of the summer baroque and classical workshop in addition to teaching classes in piano and music theory. He continues to teach part-time at the WLU as a professor emeritus.
McDonald began to pursue studies in the music of the 18th- and early 19th-century fortepiano during the early 1980s. He obtained a Steinway instrument that replicated a five-octave, mid-1780s fortepiano in 1984. In 1886 he toured Manitoba and Saskatchewan giving lecture/recials in the fortepiano repertoire. In 1888 he acquired an 1816 six-and-a-half-octave Streicher piano. In 1989 he toured Nova Scotia as a member of the Mannheim Trio with soprano Valerie Kinslow and clarinetist Sherman Friedland
Sherman Friedland
Sherman Friedland retired from Concordia University in Montreal in 1997, as Associate Professor of Fine Arts. Prior to retirement he had been active as a clarinetist, professor of music and conductor from the period between 1960 and 1997. His concerts as clarinetist were reviewed by The New York...
. He gave a fortepiano recital tour throughout Canada in 1990; notably including in his repertoire works written for him by Behrens and Underhill. He was also busy performing with the Classical Trio during the 1980s and 1990s, a chamber group he formed with baroque violinist Jeanne Lamon
Jeanne Lamon
Jeanne Lamon , violinist and conductor, born in New York, was raised in New York state, and began studying the violin at the age of seven. She studied violin at the Westchester Conservatory of Music with Editha Braham...
and baroque cellist Christina Mahler. He also made several appearances at the Boston Early Music Festival
Boston Early Music Festival
The Boston Early Music Festival is a music festival held every two years in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, for all people interested in historical music performance....
serving as baritone David Falk
David Falk
David B. Falk is an American sports agent who primarily works with basketball players in the National Basketball Association. Falk began his career representing professional tennis players for Donald Dell's ProServ and is best known for representing sports icon Michael Jordan for the entirety of...
's accompianist. He also appeared numerous times as a soloist on the 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...
program Two New Hours.