Healey Willan

James Healey Willan ( born October 12, 1880 in Balham, † February 16, 1968 in Toronto ) was a Canadian composer, choral conductor, organist and music teacher.

Willan visited the St Saviour's Choir School in Eastbourne, where he took lessons in piano and organ, harmony and counterpoint, and soon worked as a choral singer and conductor- and school librarian. After finishing school in 1895 he took organ lessons with William Stevenson Hoyte, the organist of the London All Saints Church, and Piano lessons with Evlyn Howard -Jones. Until 1913 he worked as an organist at various churches and at the St. Cecilia Society ( 1895-1900 ) and conductor at the Wanstead Choral Society ( 1904-06 ) and the Thalian Operatic Society ( 1916).

1913 Willan emigrated to Canada to become the successor of Humfrey Anger as Head of the Department of Music Theory at the Toronto Conservatory of Music. At the same time he became a cantor place at St Paul 's Anglican Church. In 1914 he became a lecturer at the University of Toronto, Hart House Theatre which he headed from 1919 to 1925. From 1920 until his dismissal in 1936 he was vice - principal of the TCM. In 1921 he assumed the position of organist and choirmaster at the Anglican St Mary Magdalene Church, a position he held until his death.

Fifty years Willan was a member of the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto, which he was president in 1923. Twice ( 1922-23 and 1933-35 ), he led the Royal Canadian College of Organists. From 1932 to 1964 he was organist at the University of Toronto, where he proved to be wrung out forming a concert organist. From 1933 to 1939 he headed the Tudor Singers, a choir for Renaissance music.

From 1937 to 1950 Willan taught at the University of Toronto counterpoint and composition, in addition he gave lectures at the University of Michigan ( 1937-38 ) and at the University of California at Los Angeles ( 1949). In 1943 he was a board member of the British Organ Restoration Fund, whose aim was the restoration of the organ of Coventry Cathedral. In 1950 he became director of the Gregorian Association of Toronto. The Canadian League of Composers took him in 1955 as an honorary member. In 1967 he was awarded the Companion of the Order of Canada. On his 100th birthday, the Canadian post brought a stamp out with his portrait. In addition to Emma Albani, he was the first Canadian musician to be honored in this way.

Willan composed over 850 works, including operas addition, symphonic works and chamber music numerous church musical organ and choral works.

Works

  • Trio in B Minor for Piano Trio, 1907
  • Prelude and Fugue for Organ, 1908
  • Prelude and Fugue for Organ, 1909
  • Variations and Epilogue on an Original Theme for Piano, 1913-15
  • Introduction, Passacaglia and Fugue for Organ, 1916
  • Sonata No.. 1 for Violin and Piano, 1916
  • Sonata No.. 2 for violin and piano, 1921
  • The Mystery of Bethlehem, cantata, 1923, 1951
  • Six Motets, 1924
  • The Beggar's Opera, 1928
  • The Order of Good Cheer opera after Louvigny de Montigny, 1928
  • The Three Kings for mixed choir, 1928
  • Rise Up, My Love, My Fair One for mixed choir, 1929
  • Red Carol Book for mixed choir in unison and piano, 1930
  • Behold the Tabernacle of God for mixed choir, 1933
  • Symphony No.. 1, 1936
  • Hymn for Those in the Air, spectacle of music, 1942
  • Piano Concerto, 1944
  • Symphony No.. 2, 1948
  • Royce Hall Suite for Concert Band, 1949
  • Gloria Deo per immensa saecula for mixed choir, 1950
  • Overture to to Unwritten Comedy, 1951
  • Coronation Suite for chorus and orchestra, 1952
  • O Lord, Our Governour for chorus and orchestra, 1953
  • The Story of Bethlehem for mixed choir and organ, 1955
  • Rondino, Elegy and Chaconne for Organ 1956
  • Five Pieces for Organ, 1958
  • Three Fanfares for four trumpets, three trombones and timpani, 1959
  • Poem for Strings, 1959
  • Fugal Trilogy for Organ, 1959
  • Passacaglia and Fugue for Organ, 1959
  • Carols for the Seasons for female chorus, 1959
  • Canadian Psalter, 1963
  • Anthem for the Centennial of Canadian Confederation for chorus and piano, 1966

Swell

  • The Canadian Encyclopedia - Willan, Healey
  • Classical Composers - Healey Willan
  • Canadian Music Centre - Healey Willan
  • Canadian Composer
  • Classic organist
  • Music teacher
  • Choirmaster
  • Companion of the Order of Canada
  • Born in 1880
  • Died in 1968
  • Man
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