Alexis Contant

Joseph Pierre Alexis Contant ( born November 12, 1858 in Montreal, † November 28, 1918 ibid ) was a Canadian composer, pianist, organist and music teacher.

Contant had his first piano lessons from his mother, a student of Emma Albani, then was a pupil of the organist and pianist Joseph A. Fowler, and from 1875 by Calixa Lavallée. In 1883 he studied in Boston harmony, counterpoint and composition. Because of his uncontrollable stage fright during public appearances he gave up a career as a concert pianist and was from 1885 until his death organist at the St- Jean -Baptiste Church in Montreal.

In addition, he taught at the Collège de Montréal (1883-1890), at Mont -St- Louis College (1900-1918) and at the Conservatoire National ( 1905-1917 ). Among his pupils were Victor Brault, Claude Champagne, Orpha -F. Deveaux, Jean- Josaphat Gagnier, Rodolphe Mathieu and Wilfrid Pelletier.

From his piano works, La Lyre enchantée enjoyed a " ' fantaisie - nocturne " in the style of Chopin's great popularity on concert stages and in salons. He composed four large fairs and the first Canadian Oratorio ( Caïn, 1905). 1907 his patriotic cantata Le Canada was listed, in 1912, the symphonic poem L' Aurore. Is often performed his Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano.

To Contants centennial CBC, in the year 1958 a concert of works by the composer from his longtime workplace, the St- Jean -Baptiste Church, under the direction of Roland Leduc. 1962 a street was named after him in Montreal. His estate was acquired in 1971 in the National Library of Canada, 1979, an exhibition organized in Ottawa and 1982 Alexis Contant Catalogue published.

Contants brother Joseph -Albert Contant ( born October 1, 1877 in Montreal, † April 16, 1942 in Joliette ), a student of Alcibiade Beique, worked in various cities as a choral conductor and organist and composed some church music. One of his daughters married the painter Georges Delfosse. His grandson, Jean -Yves Contant ( born March 28, 1918 in Montreal) was for many years a producer at CBC Radio.

Works

  • La Lyre enchantée for piano, 1875
  • La Cavalcade for piano four- hands, 1883
  • Fair brève s do, 1894
  • Tantum ergo, 1897
  • Méditation for Cello and Piano, 1897
  • Vive Laurier for piano, 1897
  • L' Angelus, 1898
  • Fantaisie sur the airs canadiens for orchestra, 1900
  • Romance for Cello and Piano, 1900
  • Les Allies: 'Grande marche héroïque ' for orchestra or piano, 1902
  • Marche Pontificale Pie X for orchestra, 1903
  • La Charmeuse for Cello and Piano, 1903
  • Caïn, oratorio, 1905
  • Le Canada, patriotic cantata, 1906
  • Les Deux Âmes, 1906-09
  • Musique for Violin, Cello and Piano, 1907
  • Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano, 1907
  • Messe des morts, 1908
  • Fair brève en sol, 1910
  • Messe des anges
  • L' Aurore, symphonic poem, 1912
  • Veronica overture to an unfinished opera, 1916
Orpha-F. Deveaux J.-J. Gagnier Mass (music) Dictionary of Canadian Biography Integrated Authority File
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