Walter MacNutt
Encyclopedia
Walter Louis MacNutt was a Canadian organist
, choir director, and composer
. His compositional output includes numerous choral works, songs, pieces for solo organ, and works for orchestra
; many of which have been published by companies like Broadcast Music Incorporated
, Frederick Harris Music
, the Waterloo Music Company
, and the Western Music Company
. In 1938 his Suite for Piano was awarded the first Vogt Society prize for Canadian composition. One of his more popular works, the secular song Take Me to a Green Isle, is taken from a poem by H.E. Foster. He also composed many songs to the poems of William Blake
. In his later years, he composed music mainly for the Anglican church
, include two Missae breves and the Mass of St James (1974).
, MacNutt began his music studies with W.E. Fletcher and Roberta Spencer Full on Prince Edward Island
. In 1929 he entered the Toronto Conservatory of Music (TCM) where he studied through 1932 with Reginald Godden (piano) and Healey Willan
(organ and composition). He notably won the TCM's Vogt Memorial and Marion Ferguson scholarships and won a national competition in 1931.
In 1931 MscNutt became organist-choirmaster at Trinity Church in Barrie, Ontario, a post he held through 1935. He then worked in the same capacity at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Toronto from 1935-1942. From 1942-1946 he served in the Canadian Army where he was stationed on Prince Edward Island. During that time he played saxophone in a regimental band and was the organist at St. Peter's Pro-Cathedral in his native city.
After World War II
, MacNutt was the organist-choirmaster at All Saints' Anglican Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba from 1946-1949. He worked in the same capacity at All Saints' Church, Windsor, Ontario from 1949-1953 where he notably conducted several performances of the Windsor Singers for CBC Radio
. He then became organist-choirmaster at St. Thomas's Anglican Church in Toronto in 1954, holding that post until his retirement in 1977. He lived the rest of his life in Toronto where he died in 1996 at the age of 86.
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...
, choir director, 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...
. His compositional output includes numerous choral works, songs, pieces for solo organ, and works for orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
; many of which have been published by companies like Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
, Frederick Harris Music
Frederick Harris Music
The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited is a North American music publishing firm.Located in Toronto Ontario, The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited has the largest catalogue of any Canadian print music publisher. Frederick Harris has supported the work of such renowned composers as Boris Berlin,...
, the Waterloo Music Company
Waterloo Music Company
The Waterloo Music Company was a Canadian music publishing and musical instrument retailing firm that was founded in 1921 by Charles F. Thiele in Waterloo, Ontario...
, and the Western Music Company
Western Music Company
The Western Music Company was a Canadian music publishing and retailing firm based in Vancouver. Founded in 1930 by Herbert Drost, the company was initially a retail store for sheet music but soon expanded to include records and instruments to its merchandise. The company also operated branches...
. In 1938 his Suite for Piano was awarded the first Vogt Society prize for Canadian composition. One of his more popular works, the secular song Take Me to a Green Isle, is taken from a poem by H.E. Foster. He also composed many songs to the poems of William Blake
William Blake
William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age...
. In his later years, he composed music mainly for the Anglican church
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
, include two Missae breves and the Mass of St James (1974).
Life and career
Born in CharlottetownCharlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
, MacNutt began his music studies with W.E. Fletcher and Roberta Spencer Full on Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
. In 1929 he entered the Toronto Conservatory of Music (TCM) where he studied through 1932 with Reginald Godden (piano) and Healey Willan
Healey Willan
Healey Willan, was an Anglo-Canadian organist and composer. He composed more than 800 works including operas, symphonies, chamber music, a concerto, and pieces for band, orchestra, organ, and piano...
(organ and composition). He notably won the TCM's Vogt Memorial and Marion Ferguson scholarships and won a national competition in 1931.
In 1931 MscNutt became organist-choirmaster at Trinity Church in Barrie, Ontario, a post he held through 1935. He then worked in the same capacity at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Toronto from 1935-1942. From 1942-1946 he served in the Canadian Army where he was stationed on Prince Edward Island. During that time he played saxophone in a regimental band and was the organist at St. Peter's Pro-Cathedral in his native city.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, MacNutt was the organist-choirmaster at All Saints' Anglican Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba from 1946-1949. He worked in the same capacity at All Saints' Church, Windsor, Ontario from 1949-1953 where he notably conducted several performances of the Windsor Singers for 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...
. He then became organist-choirmaster at St. Thomas's Anglican Church in Toronto in 1954, holding that post until his retirement in 1977. He lived the rest of his life in Toronto where he died in 1996 at the age of 86.