J.-J. Gagnier
Encyclopedia
Jean-Josaphat Gagnier was a Canadian conductor
, composer
, clarinet
ist, bassoon
ist, pianist
, arts administrator, and music educator. His compositional output mainly consists of works for orchestra and band, although he did write some choral pieces, songs, works for solo piano and organ, some incidental music for the theatre, and a work for solo harp. His compositions are written in a wide variety of styles from romanticism to impressionism to 20th century idioms.
, Gagnier was the son of clarinetist Joseph Gagnier
and received his earliest musical training on that instrument from him. His other clarinet teachers included Oscar Arnold, Léon Medaer, Louis van Loocke, and Jacques Vanpoucke. He studied the bassoon with Émile Barbot and Carl Westermeier, the piano with Alexis Contant
and Romain-Octave Pelletier I
, and theory with Contant, Orpha-F. Deveaux
, Romain Pelletier
, and Charles Tanguy
. He had 26 siblings, many of whom also became professional musicians of note; including Armand Gagnier, Ernest Gagnier, Guillaume Gagnier, Lucien Gagnier, Réal Gagnier, and René Gagnier
. A number of his nieces and nephews also became notable musicians, including Claire Gagnier, Ève Gagnier, and Gérald Gagnier
, and his son Roland Gagnier was a successful bassoonist.
Gagnier began working as a professional musician at the age of 14, performing in orchestras and bands in theaters in Montreal and with his father in the orchestra at Sohmer Park. By 1904 he was conducting his own choirs and bands at just 18 years of age. In the 1905-1906 season he, along with his father, became a bassoonist in J.-J. Goulet's Montreal Symphony Orchestra, following the ensemble's unsuccessful attempt to acquire two bassoonists among the city's other musicians. He founded the Montreal Concert Band (also known as the Concordia) in 1910, a band he directed for the next several years.
In 1911-1912 Gagnier played in the orchestra and served as assistant conductor for the Montreal Opera Company. His work with this company led to his meeting arts patron and impresaro Frank Stephen Meighen who was highly impressed by Gagnier's talent. Meighen appointed him director of the Canadian Grenadier Guards Band
in 1913 with the rank of captain in the Canadian Army; a position he held through 1947. In 1917 he became music director of the Sohmer Park Concert Band, a post he held for three years.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Gagnier worked frequently as a guest conductor throughout Canada and the United States, notably working on a number occasions with the famous Goldman Band
. He conducted a number of opera
performances for theatres in St-Denis and Français in 1921. In 1920 he founded the Little Symphony of Montreal which he directed through 1931. From 1927-1929 he conducted the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (no relation to the current orchestra of that name). In the summer of 1933 he organized a special concert of un-published works by Calixa Lavallée
at the Lafontaine Gardens upon the occasion of Lavallée's remains being moved from Boston to Montreal. The music presented was the result of Gagnier's unearthing of original scores by Lavallée held in private collections and libraries. In 1942 he founded the Gagnier Woodwind Quintet which consisted of four of his brothers and his son. He directed the ensemble until bad health forced him to resign in 1949.
In the 1930s and 1940s Gagnier was active conducting for radio, beginning with a series of 26 concerts in 1931 with the Canadian Grenadier Guards Band for CBS Radio
in the United States. From 1934 until his death in Montreal in 1949 he worked as the director of CBC Radio
in Montreal and was an employee of CRBC. For them he not only coordinated and chose programs, but also served as a conductor for broadcasts of opera, orchestral, and band concerts. For the CBC he compiled the first catalogue of musical compositions by Canadian composers which was issued by the CBC in mimeograph in 1947.
Gagnier was active as a teacher throughout his career, taking on a number of private students. He also was a faculty member at both Mont-St-Louis College and the Collège de Montréal
from 1925 to 1930. He also was an instructor at the Conservatoire national de musique
, the McGill University
, and the Dominion College of Music. He himself earned a Doctor of Music
from the Université de Montréal
in 1934. He also gave numerous guest lectures and published several articles, essays, and poems; many of which appeared in Le Passe-Temps.
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...
, 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...
, clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
ist, bassoon
Bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
ist, 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:...
, arts administrator, and music educator. His compositional output mainly consists of works for orchestra and band, although he did write some choral pieces, songs, works for solo piano and organ, some incidental music for the theatre, and a work for solo harp. His compositions are written in a wide variety of styles from romanticism to impressionism to 20th century idioms.
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...
, Gagnier was the son of clarinetist Joseph Gagnier
Joseph Gagnier
Joseph Gagnier was a Canadian clarinetist and the father of an important Canadian family of musicians.-Life and career:...
and received his earliest musical training on that instrument from him. His other clarinet teachers included Oscar Arnold, Léon Medaer, Louis van Loocke, and Jacques Vanpoucke. He studied the bassoon with Émile Barbot and Carl Westermeier, the piano with Alexis Contant
Alexis Contant
Joseph Pierre Alexis Contant was a Canadian composer, organist, pianist, and music educator. The first notable Canadian composer to be entirely trained in his native country, he stated "I write not for glory but rather to satisfy an irresistible need." Although he had considerable training as a...
and Romain-Octave Pelletier I
Romain-Octave Pelletier I
Romain-Octave Pelletier I was a Canadian organist, pianist, composer, writer on music, and music educator.-Early life and career:...
, and theory with Contant, Orpha-F. Deveaux
Orpha-F. Deveaux
Orpha-F. Deveaux was an American organist, pianist, and music educator. Born in Saginaw, Michigan, he studied at the New York College of Music with Mat Schmidt and privately in Montreal with Alexis Contant and Percival J. Illsley...
, 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 Charles Tanguy
Charles Tanguy
Charles Tanguy was a French composer, french horn player, and music educator. His compositional output consists of several works for solo piano, numerous sentimental ballads, and a number of patriotic songs for the nation of Canada which were published in Le Passe-Temps...
. He had 26 siblings, many of whom also became professional musicians of note; including Armand Gagnier, Ernest Gagnier, Guillaume Gagnier, Lucien Gagnier, Réal Gagnier, and 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...
. A number of his nieces and nephews also became notable musicians, including Claire Gagnier, Ève Gagnier, and Gérald Gagnier
Gérald Gagnier
Gérald Gagnier was a Canadian bandmaster, composer, and trumpeter. His compositional output includes the symphonic poem Polyphème, a Prélude for piano, a Suite romantique for strings, and Rolandineries for piano.-Life and career:Born in Montreal, Gagnier was the son of musician René Gagnier and...
, and his son Roland Gagnier was a successful bassoonist.
Gagnier began working as a professional musician at the age of 14, performing in orchestras and bands in theaters in Montreal and with his father in the orchestra at Sohmer Park. By 1904 he was conducting his own choirs and bands at just 18 years of age. In the 1905-1906 season he, along with his father, became a bassoonist in J.-J. Goulet's Montreal Symphony Orchestra, following the ensemble's unsuccessful attempt to acquire two bassoonists among the city's other musicians. He founded the Montreal Concert Band (also known as the Concordia) in 1910, a band he directed for the next several years.
In 1911-1912 Gagnier played in the orchestra and served as assistant conductor for the Montreal Opera Company. His work with this company led to his meeting arts patron and impresaro Frank Stephen Meighen who was highly impressed by Gagnier's talent. Meighen appointed him director of the Canadian Grenadier Guards Band
Canadian Grenadier Guards Band
The Canadian Grenadier Guards Band was a Canadian military band that was active for more than 60 years during the 20th century. In addition to performing for military events, the band had an active concert schedule which brought them to performance venues throughout North America...
in 1913 with the rank of captain in the Canadian Army; a position he held through 1947. In 1917 he became music director of the Sohmer Park Concert Band, a post he held for three years.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Gagnier worked frequently as a guest conductor throughout Canada and the United States, notably working on a number occasions with the famous Goldman Band
Goldman Band
The Goldman Band was formed by American musician and composer Edwin Franko Goldman in 1918 from the earlier New York Military Band. Goldman had organized the New York Military Band in 1911...
. He conducted a number of opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
performances for theatres in St-Denis and Français in 1921. In 1920 he founded the Little Symphony of Montreal which he directed through 1931. From 1927-1929 he conducted the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (no relation to the current orchestra of that name). In the summer of 1933 he organized a special concert of un-published works by Calixa Lavallée
Calixa Lavallée
Calixa Lavallée, , born Calixte Lavallée, was a French-Canadian-American musician and Union officer during the American Civil War who composed the music for O Canada, which officially became the national anthem of Canada in 1980.-Biography:Calixa Lavallée was born at Verchères, a suburb of...
at the Lafontaine Gardens upon the occasion of Lavallée's remains being moved from Boston to Montreal. The music presented was the result of Gagnier's unearthing of original scores by Lavallée held in private collections and libraries. In 1942 he founded the Gagnier Woodwind Quintet which consisted of four of his brothers and his son. He directed the ensemble until bad health forced him to resign in 1949.
In the 1930s and 1940s Gagnier was active conducting for radio, beginning with a series of 26 concerts in 1931 with the Canadian Grenadier Guards Band for CBS Radio
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
in the United States. From 1934 until his death in Montreal in 1949 he worked as the director of 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...
in Montreal and was an employee of CRBC. For them he not only coordinated and chose programs, but also served as a conductor for broadcasts of opera, orchestral, and band concerts. For the CBC he compiled the first catalogue of musical compositions by Canadian composers which was issued by the CBC in mimeograph in 1947.
Gagnier was active as a teacher throughout his career, taking on a number of private students. He also was a faculty member at both Mont-St-Louis College and the Collège de Montréal
Collège de Montréal
The Collège de Montréal is a private secondary school for students attending grades 7–11 located in Downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. A former Roman Catholic Seminary, it was founded 1 June 1767 as the Petit Séminaire of Montreal by the Suplician Order...
from 1925 to 1930. He also was an instructor 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...
, the 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...
, and the Dominion College of Music. He himself earned a Doctor of Music
Doctor of Music
The Doctor of Music degree , like other doctorates, is an academic degree of the highest level. The D.Mus. is intended for musicians and composers who wish to combine the highest attainments in their area of specialization with doctoral-level academic study in music...
from 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...
in 1934. He also gave numerous guest lectures and published several articles, essays, and poems; many of which appeared in Le Passe-Temps.