Ernest MacMillan
Encyclopedia
Sir Ernest Alexander Campbell MacMillan, CC
(August 18, 1893 – May 6, 1973) was an internationally renowned Canadian
orchestral conductor
and composer
, and Canada's only "Musical Knight". He is widely regarded as being Canada's pre-eminent musician, from the 1920s through the 1950s. His extraordinary contributions to the development of music in Canada, as conductor, performer, composer, administrator, lecturer, adjudicator, writer, humourist, and statesman, are unparalleled.
, Ontario
, the son of Mimico's Presbyterian Church Minister, Alexander MacMillan. A child prodigy, he gave his first organ recital at the age of ten. After studying in London
at the Royal College of Organists
, he studied modern history at the University of Toronto
from 1911 to 1914.
, when the First World War
began in August, following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
on June 28. MacMillan was initially detained by the German Police, and then imprisoned as an enemy alien, as Canada had declared war on Imperial Germany on August 5. MacMillan was subsequently interned for the duration of the War at Ruhleben
, a civilian detention camp, located on the site of a former horse racing track, on the outskirts of Berlin
. During this period, he became a prominent member of the Ruhleben Musical Society and directed performances of Mikado
and a pantomime
version of Cinderella
. MacMillan transcribed the music for the former from memory with the help of four other musicians. Among those attending these performances was James W. Gerard
, the United States Ambassador
to Germany. MacMillan was also a member of the Ruhleben Drama Society and acted in productions of Othello
, Twelfth Night, and The Importance of Being Earnest
.
in 1929. He was a conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
between 1931 and 1956. His notoriety for choosing slow tempos when conducting earned him the affectionate name "Lord Largo"! During the Centennial of the City of Toronto
, in 1934, MacMillan was the chairman of the Music and Pagentry Committee. For many years, he served as organist of the Timothy Eaton Memorial Church
.
Ernest MacMillan died in Toronto in 1973.
MacMillan was noted for his efforts in recording and preserving the traditional songs and music of Canada's aboriginal or First Nations
people.
on the recommendation of the prime minister of Canada, R.B. Bennett. In 1969, MacMillan was invested as a Companion of the Order of Canada
. His Order of Canada investiture by then Governor General of Canada
, Roland Michener
, in Toronto
, marked the first time the award had been made in a private ceremony, as his health did not allow him to travel to Ottawa
.
neighborhood.
Sir Ernest and Lady MacMillan's home at 115 Park Road was designated a heritage property, as adopted by Toronto City Council, January 22, 1979. The house is also included in the South Rosedale Heritage Conservation District. South Rosedale was designated as a Heritage Conservation District under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act
, and also enacted by Toronto City Council, February 7, 2003.
which was created May 21, 2004, by order of the Governor in Council, through the merger of the National Library of Canada and the National Archives of Canada.
[To access the Sir Ernest MacMillan Collection at Library and Archives Canada, go to the Library and Archives Canada Homepage, click in the Search All box, type "Sir Ernest MacMillan", and click Go!]
"A dominant figure in the world of Canadian music, MacMillan distinguished himself as a conductor, organist, pianist, composer, educator, writer and administrator. He spent forty years of his life in downtown Toronto, not far from Massey Hall
, his most frequent performance venue. He conducted the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
from 1931 to 1956 and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir from 1942 to 1957. He was principal of the Royal Conservatory of Music from 1926 to 1942 and dean of the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music from 1927 to 1952. He chaired a number of organizations, such as the Canadian Music Council (1947-66) and the Canadian Music Centre
(1959-70). His work as an examiner and festival adjudicator took him all across the country. His musical works and numerous arrangements feature elements of French-Canadian and Scottish folklore, as well as Amerindian music. The most important include: Fantasy on Scottish Melodies for orchestra, Two Sketches for Strings, Six Bergerettes du Bas-Canada for chamber ensemble, England and a Te Deum for choir, a String Quartet in C Minor and the opera Prince Charming."
[To access the fonds description click on
Sir Ernest MacMillan fonds (manuscript)
Finding aid: Maureen Nevins. -- "Numerical List of the Sir Ernest MacMillan Fonds". -- Ottawa: National Library of Canada. -- November 1992. 435 p. (unpublished).
The principal goal of the Foundation is to assist young musicians in their advanced education at the graduate level and in so doing commemorate a great Canadian and his unique career. More information on the MacMillan Foundation Award is provided at The Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation Award.
In 1993, the Foundation played a major role in celebrating the centenary of Sir Ernest's birth. It encouraged many commemorative activities throughout the country and collaborated with the Music Division of the National Library of Canada in presenting at Roy Thompson Hall part of the Library's comprehensive MacMillan exhibit.
The Foundation accepts donations from individuals and organizations interested in furthering the musical arts in Canada through its awards program. Donations are tax deductible.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(August 18, 1893 – May 6, 1973) was an internationally renowned Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
orchestral 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...
and 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 Canada's only "Musical Knight". He is widely regarded as being Canada's pre-eminent musician, from the 1920s through the 1950s. His extraordinary contributions to the development of music in Canada, as conductor, performer, composer, administrator, lecturer, adjudicator, writer, humourist, and statesman, are unparalleled.
Early Life and Education (1893-1914)
Ernest Alexander Campbell MacMillan was born in MimicoMimico
The historic Town of Mimico is a neighbourhood in the south-western part of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the south-east corner of the former Township of Etobicoke, and was an independent municipality from 1911 to 1967....
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, the son of Mimico's Presbyterian Church Minister, Alexander MacMillan. A child prodigy, he gave his first organ recital at the age of ten. After studying in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at the Royal College of Organists
Royal College of Organists
The Royal College of Organists or RCO, is a charity and membership organisation based in the United Kingdom, but with members around the world...
, he studied modern history at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
from 1911 to 1914.
Internment in Germany (1914-1918)
MacMillan traveled to Paris in the spring of 1914 and began to study piano privately with Thérèse Chaigneau. He was visiting Bayreuth, Germany, to attend performances of the Bayreuth FestivalBayreuth Festival
The Bayreuth Festival is a music festival held annually in Bayreuth, Germany, at which performances of operas by the 19th century German composer Richard Wagner are presented...
, when the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
began in August, following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
On 28 June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, were shot dead in Sarajevo, by Gavrilo Princip, one of a group of six Bosnian Serb assassins coordinated by Danilo Ilić...
on June 28. MacMillan was initially detained by the German Police, and then imprisoned as an enemy alien, as Canada had declared war on Imperial Germany on August 5. MacMillan was subsequently interned for the duration of the War at Ruhleben
Ruhleben P.O.W. Camp
Ruhleben P.O.W. Camp was a civilian detention camp during World War I. It was located in Ruhleben, then a village to the west of Berlin, now split between the districts of Spandau and Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf...
, a civilian detention camp, located on the site of a former horse racing track, on the outskirts of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. During this period, he became a prominent member of the Ruhleben Musical Society and directed performances of Mikado
Mikado
Mikado may refer to:* Mikado, alternative term for Emperor of Japan* The Mikado, a 1885 comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan- Foods :* Mikado, the European brand name for Pocky, a Japanese chocolate-covered breadstick...
and a pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
version of Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
. MacMillan transcribed the music for the former from memory with the help of four other musicians. Among those attending these performances was James W. Gerard
James W. Gerard
James Watson Gerard was a U.S. lawyer and diplomat.-Biography:Gerard was born in Geneseo, N. Y. He graduated from Columbia in 1890 and from New York Law School. He was chairman of the Democratic campaign committee of New York County for four years, and served as major of the National Guard of the...
, the United States Ambassador
Ambassadors from the United States
This is a list of ambassadors of the United States to individual nations of the world, to international organizations, to past nations, and ambassadors-at-large.Ambassadors are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate...
to Germany. MacMillan was also a member of the Ruhleben Drama Society and acted in productions of Othello
Othello
The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the Italian short story "Un Capitano Moro" by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565...
, Twelfth Night, and The Importance of Being Earnest
The Importance of Being Earnest
The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People is a play by Oscar Wilde. First performed on 14 February 1895 at St. James's Theatre in London, it is a farcical comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious personae in order to escape burdensome social obligations...
.
Canadian Musician (1919-1973)
From 1926 to 1942, MacMillan was principal of the Toronto Conservatory of Music, later to become the Royal Conservatory of Music. He notably was instrumental in establishing the Conservatory String QuartetConservatory String Quartet
The Conservatory String Quartet was a Canadian string quartet in residence at The Royal Conservatory of Music during the first half of the 20th century. The group actively performed in the Toronto area and regularly toured throughout the Province of Ontario. The quartet also notably toured to...
in 1929. He was a conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:The TSO was founded in 1922 as the New Symphony Orchestra, and gave its first concert at Massey Hall in April 1923. The orchestra changed its name to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1927. The TSO...
between 1931 and 1956. His notoriety for choosing slow tempos when conducting earned him the affectionate name "Lord Largo"! During the Centennial of the City of Toronto
Centennial of the City of Toronto
The Centennial of the City of Toronto was celebrated in 1934. The celebrations included numerous events, exhibitions, and commemorations.Of the most modern relevance is the "Toronto's Hundred Years" Publication Committee, which published Toronto's 100 Years, from which much historical perspective...
, in 1934, MacMillan was the chairman of the Music and Pagentry Committee. For many years, he served as organist of the Timothy Eaton Memorial Church
Timothy Eaton Memorial Church
Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, in Toronto, Canada, was erected at 230 St. Clair Avenue West in 1914 as a Methodist congregation, and named for department store founder Timothy Eaton....
.
Ernest MacMillan died in Toronto in 1973.
MacMillan was noted for his efforts in recording and preserving the traditional songs and music of Canada's aboriginal or First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
people.
Knighthood and other honours
For his 'services to music in Canada', he was knighted in 1935 by King George VGeorge V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
on the recommendation of the prime minister of Canada, R.B. Bennett. In 1969, MacMillan was invested as a Companion of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. His Order of Canada investiture by then Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
, Roland Michener
Roland Michener
Daniel Roland Michener , commonly known as Roland Michener, was a Canadian lawyer, politician, and diplomat who served as Governor General of Canada, the 20th since Canadian Confederation....
, in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, marked the first time the award had been made in a private ceremony, as his health did not allow him to travel to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
.
Family Home, 115 Park Road, Toronto, constructed c. 1931-1932
In 1931, Ernest and his wife Elsie MacMillan, née Keith, commissioned Page & Steele Architects, Toronto, for the construction of their home at 115 Park Road, in Toronto's fashionable RosedaleRosedale, Toronto
Rosedale is an affluent neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which was formerly the estate of William Botsford Jarvis, and so named by his wife, granddaughter of William Dummer Powell, for the wild roses that grew there in abundance....
neighborhood.
Sir Ernest and Lady MacMillan's home at 115 Park Road was designated a heritage property, as adopted by Toronto City Council, January 22, 1979. The house is also included in the South Rosedale Heritage Conservation District. South Rosedale was designated as a Heritage Conservation District under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act
Ontario Heritage Act
The Ontario Heritage Act, first enacted on March 5, 1975, allows municipalities and the provincial government to designate individual properties and districts in the Province of Ontario, Canada, as being of cultural heritage value or interest....
, and also enacted by Toronto City Council, February 7, 2003.
Background
The collection of Sir Ernest MacMillan's personal papers and music was established at the National Library of Canada, in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1984. The Sir Ernest MacMillan Collection is now included as part of the overall collections of Library and Archives CanadaLibrary and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada is a national memory institution dedicated to providing the best possible account of Canadian life through acquiring, preserving and making Canada's documentary heritage accessible for use in the 21st century and beyond...
which was created May 21, 2004, by order of the Governor in Council, through the merger of the National Library of Canada and the National Archives of Canada.
[To access the Sir Ernest MacMillan Collection at Library and Archives Canada, go to the Library and Archives Canada Homepage, click in the Search All box, type "Sir Ernest MacMillan", and click Go!]
Biographical Sketch of Sir Ernest MacMillan
The following Biographical Sketch of Sir Ernest MacMillan is provided in the Music Archives Division page of the former National Library of Canada, Sir Ernest MacMillan Collection:"A dominant figure in the world of Canadian music, MacMillan distinguished himself as a conductor, organist, pianist, composer, educator, writer and administrator. He spent forty years of his life in downtown Toronto, not far from Massey Hall
Massey Hall
Massey Hall is a venerable performing arts theatre in the Garden District of downtown Toronto. The theatre originally was designed to seat 3,500 patrons but, after extensive renovations in the 1940s, now seats up to 2,765....
, his most frequent performance venue. He conducted the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:The TSO was founded in 1922 as the New Symphony Orchestra, and gave its first concert at Massey Hall in April 1923. The orchestra changed its name to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1927. The TSO...
from 1931 to 1956 and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir from 1942 to 1957. He was principal of the Royal Conservatory of Music from 1926 to 1942 and dean of the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music from 1927 to 1952. He chaired a number of organizations, such as the Canadian Music Council (1947-66) and 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....
(1959-70). His work as an examiner and festival adjudicator took him all across the country. His musical works and numerous arrangements feature elements of French-Canadian and Scottish folklore, as well as Amerindian music. The most important include: Fantasy on Scottish Melodies for orchestra, Two Sketches for Strings, Six Bergerettes du Bas-Canada for chamber ensemble, England and a Te Deum for choir, a String Quartet in C Minor and the opera Prince Charming."
Sir Ernest MacMillan (1893-1973): Portrait of a Canadian Musician: An Exhibition at the National Library of Canada from October 17, 1994 to March 12, 1995
A special exhibition entitled Sir Ernest MacMillan (1893-1973): Portrait of a Canadian Musician was mounted by the National Library of Canada from October 17, 1994 to March 12, 1995.Sir Ernest MacMillan fonds (manuscript)
The Sir Ernest MacMillan Collection at Library and Archives Canada consists of 21.7 linear metres of material.[To access the fonds description click on
Sir Ernest MacMillan fonds (manuscript)
Finding aid: Maureen Nevins. -- "Numerical List of the Sir Ernest MacMillan Fonds". -- Ottawa: National Library of Canada. -- November 1992. 435 p. (unpublished).
The Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation (Fondation commérative Sir Ernest MacMillan)
The Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation (Fondation commérative Sir Ernest MacMillan) was founded in 1984 by Sir Ernest's sons, Keith and Ross MacMillan, with a donation from the MacMillan family. Additional funds have been obtained through the generosity of other donors.The principal goal of the Foundation is to assist young musicians in their advanced education at the graduate level and in so doing commemorate a great Canadian and his unique career. More information on the MacMillan Foundation Award is provided at The Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation Award.
In 1993, the Foundation played a major role in celebrating the centenary of Sir Ernest's birth. It encouraged many commemorative activities throughout the country and collaborated with the Music Division of the National Library of Canada in presenting at Roy Thompson Hall part of the Library's comprehensive MacMillan exhibit.
The Foundation accepts donations from individuals and organizations interested in furthering the musical arts in Canada through its awards program. Donations are tax deductible.
External links
- Historic property listing for 115 Park Road, Toronto, constructed c. 1931-1932 for Sir Ernest and Lady MacMillan. [Located in City of Toronto, South Rosedale Heritage Conservation District, enacted 2003]. Source: City of Toronto, Heritage Preservation Services.
- Toronto Downtown Heritage Conservation Districts 1-8. [South Rosedale is Heritage Conservation District 6].
- Heritage listing for 115 Park Road in South Rosedale Ratepayers Association (SRRA) Heritage Properties Database. [Type "115" for Street Number, "Park Road" for Street Name, and click "Search". Then, click on the blue/orange colored icon shown at 115 Park Road for a contemporary photo of the house].
- Reference to 115 Park Road in Walking Tour of South Rosedale. [Type "115 Park Road" in search box].