Frédéric Pelletier
Encyclopedia
Frédéric Pelletier was a Canadian choir
conductor
, music educator, composer
, music critic, journalist
, civil servant, military officer, and physician
. He was one of the principal music critics in Montreal during the first half of the 20th century, having worked in that capacity for every major publication in Montreal at one time or another. He was also a professor of music history
at several institutions and worked as a choirmaster in several Montreal churches. His compositional output was mainly dedicated to sacred choral works, including several motet
s and carol
s, 2 oratorio
s, a Requiem Mass, and a Stabat Mater. He also wrote some works for solo organ, some songs, and a number of harmonizations of Canadian folk tunes.
, the brother of organist, composer and conductor Romain Pelletier
, and the father of violinist Romain-Octave Pelletier II
. His other brother Victor was a cellist in J.-J. Goulet's Montreal Symphony Orchestra of which he also served as music librarian. He began his musical education as a boy studying the piano under his father. He later was a pupil of Guillaume Couture
(singing) and Achille Fortier
(harmony and counterpoint).
In c. 1887 Pelletier entered the Royal Military College Saint-Jean and after graduating served as a captain in the Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal
. He then entered the medical school at the Université de Montréal
where he earned his MD in 1895. He operated a medical practice in Montreal for a little while, but abandoned it in favour of a career as a journalist and musician. He worked as a reporter and editor for various daily newspapers in Montreal up until 1914. He also was a music columnist for various periodicals from 1900 up until the end of his life; including La Patrie
(1904–1910), La Presse
(1904–1910), La Musique (1919–1921), Musical America
(1923–1925), Association française d'action artistique (1920–1944), L'Art musical, La Lyre, Musical Canada, and the Quinzaine musicale et artistique among others. For Le Devoir
he authored a dozen reviews between 1911 and 1913 before being appointed its long time music editor and critic (1916–1944).
As a musician, Pelletier was primarily active as a choir conductor. He held the post of choirmaster at several churches in Montreal, including Saint-Léon de Westmount Church
(1909), St James-the-Less (1910–1936), and Sainte-Brigide de Kildare Church (1923–1924). In 1922 he founded the Saint-Saëns Choral Society, notably conducing performance that year of Samson et Dalila with Cédia Brault and Émile Gour. In 1931 he coordinated the first Canadian tour of the Paris children's choir Petits Chanteurs à la croix de bois, who included within their repertoire his Canadian folksong harmonizations. From 1932-1935 he served as the president of the Académie de musique du Québec and in 1933-1934 he taught music history at the École de musique Vincent-d'Indy
. He also taught that subject at the Conservatoire national de musique
for a number of years.
In addition to his work as a writer and musician, Pelletier served the city of Montreal as the secretary of the department of health from 1914-21. He then took the post of librarian and publicist for Quebec province's department of health in 1922, a position he held until his death in Montreal in 1944. His book Initiation à l'orchestre in Montreal was published posthumously in 1948, but his memoirs, Montréal, fin de siècle, which were intended for publication upon his death, have never been printed.
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...
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 educator, 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...
, music critic, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, civil servant, military officer, and physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
. He was one of the principal music critics in Montreal during the first half of the 20th century, having worked in that capacity for every major publication in Montreal at one time or another. He was also a professor of music history
Music history
Music history, sometimes called historical musicology, is the highly diverse subfield of the broader discipline of musicology that studies the composition, performance, reception, and criticism of music over time...
at several institutions and worked as a choirmaster in several Montreal churches. His compositional output was mainly dedicated to sacred choral works, including several motet
Motet
In classical music, motet is a word that is applied to a number of highly varied choral musical compositions.-Etymology:The name comes either from the Latin movere, or a Latinized version of Old French mot, "word" or "verbal utterance." The Medieval Latin for "motet" is motectum, and the Italian...
s and carol
Carol (music)
A carol is a festive song, generally religious but not necessarily connected with church worship, and often with a dance-like or popular character....
s, 2 oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
s, a Requiem Mass, and a Stabat Mater. He also wrote some works for solo organ, some songs, and a number of harmonizations of Canadian folk tunes.
Life and career
Born in Montreal, Pelletier was part of a prominent musical family in Quebec. He was the son of musician Romain-Octave Pelletier IRomain-Octave Pelletier I
Romain-Octave Pelletier I was a Canadian organist, pianist, composer, writer on music, and music educator.-Early life and career:...
, the brother of organist, composer and conductor Romain Pelletier
Romain Pelletier
Romain Pelletier was a Canadian organist, choir conductor, composer, and music educator. His compositional output consists entirely of works for solo organ and motets...
, and the father of violinist 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:...
. His other brother Victor was a cellist in J.-J. Goulet's Montreal Symphony Orchestra of which he also served as music librarian. He began his musical education as a boy studying the piano under his father. He later was a pupil of Guillaume Couture
Guillaume Couture (musician)
Guillaume Couture was a Canadian choir conductor, composer, music critic, and music educator. Although he never pursued a performance career, he is particularly remembered for his work as a voice teacher; having taught many notable Canadian singers...
(singing) and Achille Fortier
Achille Fortier
Achille Fortier was a Canadian composer and music educator. His compositional output includes a modest amount of choral and chamber works, several songs and motets, and a small amount of symphonic music. A considerable portion of his compositions are religious in nature...
(harmony and counterpoint).
In c. 1887 Pelletier entered the Royal Military College Saint-Jean and after graduating served as a captain in the Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal
Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal
Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal is one of the oldest surviving units of the historical regiments of the Canadian army. It celebrated its regimental centenary in 1969. The unit was created on November 5, 1869...
. He then entered the medical school at the Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
where he earned his MD in 1895. He operated a medical practice in Montreal for a little while, but abandoned it in favour of a career as a journalist and musician. He worked as a reporter and editor for various daily newspapers in Montreal up until 1914. He also was a music columnist for various periodicals from 1900 up until the end of his life; including La Patrie
La Patrie
La Patrie was a Montreal, Quebec daily newspaper founded by Honoré Beaugrand on February 24, 1879. It became a weekly in 1957 and folded in 1978....
(1904–1910), La Presse
La Presse
La Presse can refer to*La Presse *La Presse *La Presse...
(1904–1910), La Musique (1919–1921), Musical America
Musical America
Musical America is the oldest American magazine on classical music. Presently it is a website with a weekly online magazine. It is currently published by UBM Global Trade.-History:...
(1923–1925), Association française d'action artistique (1920–1944), L'Art musical, La Lyre, Musical Canada, and the Quinzaine musicale et artistique among others. For Le Devoir
Le Devoir
Le Devoir is a French-language newspaper published in Montreal and distributed in Quebec and the rest of Canada. It was founded by journalist, politician, and nationalist Henri Bourassa in 1910....
he authored a dozen reviews between 1911 and 1913 before being appointed its long time music editor and critic (1916–1944).
As a musician, Pelletier was primarily active as a choir conductor. He held the post of choirmaster at several churches in Montreal, including Saint-Léon de Westmount Church
Saint-Léon de Westmount Church
Saint-Léon de Westmount Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Westmount, Quebec at 4311 De Maisonneuve Boulevard West. Built in 1901, the church was designed by well known Montreal architect Georges-Alphonse Monette and decorated by Guido Nincheri from 1901 to 1903, using the wet plaster...
(1909), St James-the-Less (1910–1936), and Sainte-Brigide de Kildare Church (1923–1924). In 1922 he founded the Saint-Saëns Choral Society, notably conducing performance that year of Samson et Dalila with Cédia Brault and Émile Gour. In 1931 he coordinated the first Canadian tour of the Paris children's choir Petits Chanteurs à la croix de bois, who included within their repertoire his Canadian folksong harmonizations. From 1932-1935 he served as the president of the Académie de musique du Québec and in 1933-1934 he taught music history at the École de musique Vincent-d'Indy
École de musique Vincent-d'Indy
Lécole de musique Vincent-d'Indy is a subsidized private music college situated in Montreal in the Outremont district, that specializes in music education.-Programs:...
. He also taught that subject at 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...
for a number of years.
In addition to his work as a writer and musician, Pelletier served the city of Montreal as the secretary of the department of health from 1914-21. He then took the post of librarian and publicist for Quebec province's department of health in 1922, a position he held until his death in Montreal in 1944. His book Initiation à l'orchestre in Montreal was published posthumously in 1948, but his memoirs, Montréal, fin de siècle, which were intended for publication upon his death, have never been printed.