Ruth Watson Henderson
Encyclopedia
Ruth Louise Watson Henderson (born 23 November 1932) is a Canadian composer
, pianist
, and music educator. She has been the accompanist for the Toronto Children's Chorus
since its inception in 1978 and is currently on the faculty of The Royal Conservatory of Music where she has taught for many years. She is also music director for Kingsway Lampton United Church in Toronto.
A member of the Association of Canadian Women Composers, the Canadian League of Composers
, and an associate of the Canadian Music Centre
, Watson Henderson's compositional output includes works for organ
, piano
, string orchestra
, wind ensemble, brass ensemble
, percussion ensemble
, and more than 80 choral pieces
. Her works are known for their use of modal
and impressionistic
harmonies
. In 1989 her Chromatic Partita for Organ won the International Competition for Women Composers in Mannheim, Germany. In 1992 her Voices of Earth won the National Choral Award for Outstanding Choral Composition. In 1996 she received the Distinguished Service Award of the Ontario Choral Federation. Many of her works have been recorded and enjoy international popularity.
, Watson Henderson studied the piano
with Viggo Kihl from 1937-1945. She then entered The Royal Conservatory of Music where she studied from 1945–1952. From the RCM she earned an associates diploma in 1949 and a licentiate diploma in 1951. Her teachers at the conservatory included Alberto Guerrero
(piano) and Samuel Dolin
(composition). She later studied music composition privately with Richard Johnston
. From 1952-1954 she studied at the Mannes College of Music
in New York City with Hans Neumann.
While a student, Watson Henderson received many scholarships and awards, many of them related to winning various piano competitions. She made her professional concert debut in 1952 in Toronto and quickly became active as a solo concert pianist with major symphony orchestras throughout Canada. She also played with some frequency on CBC Radio
. In 1956 she won the grand prize on the Canadian version of Opportunity Knocks. From 1957–1961 she worked as an organist-choirmaster at various churches in Winnipeg. She worked in the same role for churches in Kitchener, Ontario from 1962–1968. She was also active as a private teacher.
In 1968 Watson Henderson became the accompianist for the Festival Singers of Canada
, a position she held through 1979. It was during these years that she began to compose music. In 1978 she became the accompanist for the Toronto Children's Chorus
, a role she continued in for many years. She has written several compositions for the choir, including Clear Sky and Thunder, a music-drama about Inuit
children, which the TCC premiered in 1984.
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...
, 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:...
, and music educator. She has been the accompanist for the Toronto Children's Chorus
Toronto Children's Chorus
Founded in 1978 by Jean Ashworth Bartle,C.M. , O.Ont., the Toronto Children's Chorus has existed for thirty years and is established as one of the world's premiere choral ensembles for children, whose artistry has inspired audiences, critics and children's choirs everywhere. Over 300 Toronto-area...
since its inception in 1978 and is currently on the faculty of The Royal Conservatory of Music where she has taught for many years. She is also music director for Kingsway Lampton United Church in Toronto.
A member of the Association of Canadian Women Composers, the Canadian League of Composers
Canadian League of Composers
The Canadian League of Composers is an organization formed in 1951 of Canadian composers primarily interested in raising awareness and acceptance of Canadian music. The activities of the League are overseen and directed by an executive and a National Council...
, and 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....
, Watson Henderson's compositional output includes works for organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, string orchestra
String orchestra
A string orchestra is an orchestra composed solely or primarily of instruments from the string family. These instruments are the violin, the viola, the cello, the double bass , the piano, the harp, and sometimes percussion...
, wind ensemble, brass ensemble
Brass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
, percussion ensemble
Percussion ensemble
A percussion ensemble is a musical ensemble consisting of only percussion instruments. Although the term can be used to describe any such group, it commonly refers to groups of classically-trained percussionists performing primarily classical music. Percussion ensembles are most commonly found at...
, and more than 80 choral pieces
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...
. Her works are known for their use of modal
Musical mode
In the theory of Western music since the ninth century, mode generally refers to a type of scale. This usage, still the most common in recent years, reflects a tradition dating to the middle ages, itself inspired by the theory of ancient Greek music.The word encompasses several additional...
and impressionistic
Impressionist music
Impressionism in music was a tendency in European classical music, mainly in France, which appeared in the late nineteenth century and continued into the middle of the twentieth century. Similarly to its precursor in the visual arts, musical impressionism focuses on a suggestion and an atmosphere...
harmonies
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
. In 1989 her Chromatic Partita for Organ won the International Competition for Women Composers in Mannheim, Germany. In 1992 her Voices of Earth won the National Choral Award for Outstanding Choral Composition. In 1996 she received the Distinguished Service Award of the Ontario Choral Federation. Many of her works have been recorded and enjoy international popularity.
Life and career
Born Ruth Louise Watson in TorontoToronto
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...
, Watson Henderson studied the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
with Viggo Kihl from 1937-1945. She then entered The Royal Conservatory of Music where she studied from 1945–1952. From the RCM she earned an associates diploma in 1949 and a licentiate diploma in 1951. Her teachers at the conservatory included Alberto Guerrero
Alberto Guerrero
Antonio Alberto García Guerrero was a Chilean-Canadian composer, pianist, and teacher. While he is most famously remembered as the mentor of Canadian pianist Glenn Gould, Guerrero influenced several generations of musicians through his many years of teaching at the Toronto Conservatory of...
(piano) and Samuel Dolin
Samuel Dolin
Samuel Joseph Dolin was a Canadian composer, music educator, and arts administrator. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre and a founding member of the Canadian League of Composers , he served as the CLC's vice president in 1967-1968 and president from 1969-1973...
(composition). She later studied music composition privately with Richard Johnston
Richard Johnston (composer)
Richard Johnston was a Canadian composer, conductor, editor, folklorist, music critic, music educator, music producer, and university administrator of American birth. He became a naturalized Canadian citizen in 1957. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre, he was appointed a Member of the Order...
. From 1952-1954 she studied at the Mannes College of Music
Mannes College of Music
Mannes College The New School for Music is The New School university's music conservatory. While the university's main campus is located in Greenwich Village, New York City, Mannes maintains its main academic building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan....
in New York City with Hans Neumann.
While a student, Watson Henderson received many scholarships and awards, many of them related to winning various piano competitions. She made her professional concert debut in 1952 in Toronto and quickly became active as a solo concert pianist with major symphony orchestras throughout Canada. She also played with some frequency 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...
. In 1956 she won the grand prize on the Canadian version of Opportunity Knocks. From 1957–1961 she worked as an organist-choirmaster at various churches in Winnipeg. She worked in the same role for churches in Kitchener, Ontario from 1962–1968. She was also active as a private teacher.
In 1968 Watson Henderson became the accompianist for the Festival Singers of Canada
Festival Singers of Canada
The Festival Singers of Canada was a professional choir located in Toronto, Canada from 1954-1979. Founded in 1954 by Elmer Iseler as the Festival Singers of Toronto, the choir was heard first heard on CBC radio in a 1955 Good Friday broadcast of Bach's Christ lag in Todesbanden...
, a position she held through 1979. It was during these years that she began to compose music. In 1978 she became the accompanist for the Toronto Children's Chorus
Toronto Children's Chorus
Founded in 1978 by Jean Ashworth Bartle,C.M. , O.Ont., the Toronto Children's Chorus has existed for thirty years and is established as one of the world's premiere choral ensembles for children, whose artistry has inspired audiences, critics and children's choirs everywhere. Over 300 Toronto-area...
, a role she continued in for many years. She has written several compositions for the choir, including Clear Sky and Thunder, a music-drama about Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
children, which the TCC premiered in 1984.