Gaston Allaire
Encyclopedia
Joseph Georges-Émile Gaston Allaire (born 18 June 1916; died 15 January 2011) was a Canadian musicologist, organist
, pianist
, composer
, and music educator of American birth. His compositional output includes several preludes for organ, an organ work on French carols, some motet
s and other choral works
, a communion service, a prelude and fugue for string orchestra, and a polyphonic mass. He also wrote Suite laurentienne for orchestra from which the Poème and the Menuet were premiered by the Quebec Symphony Orchestra in 1949, and composed the music for the 1953 film The Man on the Beach. His Marche (1964) and Petite Suite (1965) were both written for the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps Band.
, Allaire moved with his family to Danville, Quebec
when he was just two years old. He began studying the organ and piano as a child. He began professional studies in the organ in Victoriaville in 1934, continuing with his education in Quebec City in 1936. He entered the Conservatoire national de musique
in Montréal in 1940 where he was a pupil of Auguste Descarries (piano) and Eugène Lapierre
(organ). After earning a Bachelor of Music
from the conservatoire in 1947, he pursued further studies in fugue
, orchestration
, and music composition with George Rochberg
in Philadelphia from 1948-1950.
In 1953 Allaire entered the University of Connecticut
where he earned a Master of Arts
in music history and composition in 1956. He went on to earn a PhD in musicology from Boston University
in 1960 after writing a doctoral thesis entitled The masses of Claudin de Sermisy
. He pursued further studies in musicology in Europe and the United States through grants from the Canada Council
(1961-2), a Fulbright Fellowship (1962), and a grant from the Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec (1965). In 1973 he was awarded a fellowship from the Canada Council to pursue musicological research in Spain.
in Montreal. He then served on the music faculties of the Université de Montréal
(1966–1967) and the Université de Moncton
(1967–1984). At the latter institution he served as a research officer from 1969-1973 in addition to being a lecturer. After his retirement from teaching in 1984 he was named professor emeritus at the Université de Moncton. He continued to research and publish articles on renaissance polyphonic vocal music into the 1990s.
As a performer, Allaire toured as both a organ and piano recitalist throughout Canada. A number of these recitals were nationally broadcast on CBC Radio
between 1967-1970. As a writer and musicologist he contributed articles to several musical journals, including the Revue de musicologie (Paris), the Music Scene, EMC, the Boston University Journal, and the journal of the University of Moncton. He also served as president of the Canadian Society for Traditional Music from 1968–1971 and was editor of that organization's newsletter from 1969-1971.
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, pianist
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:...
, 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 of American birth. His compositional output includes several preludes for organ, an organ work on French carols, some 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 other choral works
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...
, a communion service, a prelude and fugue for string orchestra, and a polyphonic mass. He also wrote Suite laurentienne for orchestra from which the Poème and the Menuet were premiered by the Quebec Symphony Orchestra in 1949, and composed the music for the 1953 film The Man on the Beach. His Marche (1964) and Petite Suite (1965) were both written for the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps Band.
Early life and education
Born in Berlin, New HampshireBerlin, New Hampshire
Berlin is a city along the Androscoggin River in Coos County in northern New Hampshire, United States. The population was 10,051 at the 2010 census. It includes the village of Cascade. Located on the edge of the White Mountains, the city's boundaries extend into the White Mountain National Forest...
, Allaire moved with his family to Danville, Quebec
Danville, Quebec
Danville is a town in the administrative region of Estrie, in the Canadian province of Quebec. As of the 2006 Canadian Census, the population was 4,041....
when he was just two years old. He began studying the organ and piano as a child. He began professional studies in the organ in Victoriaville in 1934, continuing with his education in Quebec City in 1936. He entered 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...
in Montréal in 1940 where he was a pupil of Auguste Descarries (piano) and Eugène Lapierre
Eugène Lapierre
Eugène Lapierre was a Canadian organist, composer, journalist, writer on music, arts administrator, and music educator. He was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal in 1935 and the King George VI Coronation Medal in 1937...
(organ). After earning a 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...
from the conservatoire in 1947, he pursued further studies in fugue
Fugue
In music, a fugue is a compositional technique in two or more voices, built on a subject that is introduced at the beginning in imitation and recurs frequently in the course of the composition....
, orchestration
Orchestration
Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium...
, and music composition with George Rochberg
George Rochberg
George Rochberg was an American composer of contemporary classical music.-Life:Rochberg was born in Paterson, New Jersey. He attended the Mannes College of Music, where his teachers included George Szell and Hans Weisse, and the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Rosario Scalero and...
in Philadelphia from 1948-1950.
In 1953 Allaire entered the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
where he earned a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in music history and composition in 1956. He went on to earn a PhD in musicology from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
in 1960 after writing a doctoral thesis entitled The masses of Claudin de Sermisy
Claudin de Sermisy
Claudin de Sermisy was a French composer of the Renaissance. Along with Clément Janequin he was one of the most renowned composers of French chansons in the early 16th century; in addition he was a significant composer of sacred music...
. He pursued further studies in musicology in Europe and the United States through grants 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...
(1961-2), a Fulbright Fellowship (1962), and a grant from the Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec (1965). In 1973 he was awarded a fellowship from the Canada Council to pursue musicological research in Spain.
Career
From 1962-1967 Allaire taught on the music faculty of Loyola CollegeLoyola High School (Montreal)
Loyola High School is a private Catholic school for boys in grades 7–11 located in Montreal . The School was established in 1896 by the Society of Jesus as part of Loyola College, at the request of the English Catholic community in Montreal. It is named after St...
in Montreal. He then served on the music faculties of 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...
(1966–1967) and the Université de Moncton
Université de Moncton
The Université de Moncton is a French language university located in Moncton, New Brunswick serving the Acadian community of Atlantic Canada...
(1967–1984). At the latter institution he served as a research officer from 1969-1973 in addition to being a lecturer. After his retirement from teaching in 1984 he was named professor emeritus at the Université de Moncton. He continued to research and publish articles on renaissance polyphonic vocal music into the 1990s.
As a performer, Allaire toured as both a organ and piano recitalist throughout Canada. A number of these recitals were nationally broadcast on 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...
between 1967-1970. As a writer and musicologist he contributed articles to several musical journals, including the Revue de musicologie (Paris), the Music Scene, EMC, the Boston University Journal, and the journal of the University of Moncton. He also served as president of the Canadian Society for Traditional Music from 1968–1971 and was editor of that organization's newsletter from 1969-1971.