Allan McIver
Encyclopedia
Joseph Allan McIver was a Canadian composer
, arranger
, pianist
, and conductor
. As a pianist he performed with orchestras in the Quebec region in his early career and was the longtime accompanist and arranger for Trio lyrique
. He had a long and fruitful relationship with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
, serving as a music director, composer, arranger, conductor, and pianist for nearly four decades.
. He later studied harmony
with Oscar O'Brien
. He started his performance career playing for silent film
s in Montreal in 1926. He began performing on Canadian radio programs as a pianist and singer (baritone
) around 1930. In the early 1930s he started appearing as a concert pianist with orchestras like the Ottawa Philharmonic Orchestra.
(TL), a newly formed vocal trio in Montreal that consisted of baritone Lionel Daunais
, contralto
Anna Malenfant, and tenor
Ludovic Huot. Jules Jacob replaced Huot in the early 1940s. In 1933 the ensemble was engaged by CRBC for its network series One Hour with You, on which the group performed for 87 weeks. In 1934 the TL released the LP album
Chansons de Lionel Daunais for Radio Canada International
. In 1936 the group performed for the CBS radio network in New York where McIver was also engaged as a staff arranger.
The TL continued to perform actively in public concerts and on CBC Radio
programs like The Play of the Week, Light Up and Listen. and Serenade for Strings up until the mid-1960s when it disbanded. The group re-united briefly in the autumn of 1971 for CBC broadcasts honoring Daunais and his work. In 1984 the album Le Trio lyrique chante Lionel Daunais was released; containing music from the ensemble's many radio broadcasts. All of the arrangements performed during the TL's performance history were by McIver.
's radio drama
s. During World War II he wrote and conducted music for the shows sponsored by the Canada Savings Bond
and other radio broadcasts in Montreal. He also served as a conductor for entertainments given at army bases throughout Canada by Jack Benny
.
During the 1950s and 1960s, McIVer worked actively as a music director of variety programs for both CBC Television
and CBC Radio
. He notably directed the music for the 5 Septembee 1952 opening telecast of CBC (Montreal) TV. Among the programs he directed were Silhouettes, Paillettes, Northern Electric Concert, Le Trio lyrique, and Sunday Night Shows. He also composed the film score
for the feature picture Le Rossignol et les cloches and wrote a number of orchestral works.
Having never retired, McIver died in Montreal in 1969 at the age of 65.
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...
, arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
, 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 conductor
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...
. As a pianist he performed with orchestras in the Quebec region in his early career and was the longtime accompanist and arranger for Trio lyrique
Trio lyrique
The Trio lyrique was a Canadian vocal trio founded in 1932 by baritone Lionel Daunais. Based in Montreal, the group's other original members also included contralto Anna Malenfant and tenor Ludovic Huot. Jules Jacob replaced Huot in the early 1940s. Daunais recruited pianist and composer Allan...
. He had a long and fruitful relationship with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
, serving as a music director, composer, arranger, conductor, and pianist for nearly four decades.
Early life, education, and career
Born in Thetford Mines, McIver grew up in Sherbrooke. In his youth he studied the violin and the flute and was a piano student of Alfred WhiteheadAlfred Whitehead
Alfred Ernest Whitehead was an English composer, organist, choirmaster, and music educator who was primarily active in Canada. He taught music at several Canadian institutions of higher learning during his career and held the post of organist/choirmaster at a number of prominent Canadian churches...
. He later studied harmony
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...
with Oscar O'Brien
Oscar O'Brien
Oscar O'Brien was a Canadian folklorist, composer, pianist, organist, music educator, and Roman Catholic priest...
. He started his performance career playing for silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
s in Montreal in 1926. He began performing on Canadian radio programs as a pianist and singer (baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
) around 1930. In the early 1930s he started appearing as a concert pianist with orchestras like the Ottawa Philharmonic Orchestra.
Trio lyrique
In 1932 McIver was enlisted to work as an accompanist and arranger for Trio lyriqueTrio lyrique
The Trio lyrique was a Canadian vocal trio founded in 1932 by baritone Lionel Daunais. Based in Montreal, the group's other original members also included contralto Anna Malenfant and tenor Ludovic Huot. Jules Jacob replaced Huot in the early 1940s. Daunais recruited pianist and composer Allan...
(TL), a newly formed vocal trio in Montreal that consisted of baritone Lionel Daunais
Lionel Daunais
Noël Ferdinand Lionel Daunais, was a French Canadian baritone and composer.Born in Montreal, Quebec, Daunais studied singing with Céline Marier and harmony and composition with Oscar O'Brien. In 1923 he won first prize at the Montreal Musical Festival...
, contralto
Contralto
Contralto is the deepest female classical singing voice, with the lowest tessitura, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. It typically ranges between the F below middle C to the second G above middle C , although at the extremes some voices can reach the E below middle C or the second B above...
Anna Malenfant, and tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
Ludovic Huot. Jules Jacob replaced Huot in the early 1940s. In 1933 the ensemble was engaged by CRBC for its network series One Hour with You, on which the group performed for 87 weeks. In 1934 the TL released the LP album
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
Chansons de Lionel Daunais for Radio Canada International
Radio Canada International
Radio Canada International is the international broadcasting service of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . Until 1970, it was known as the CBC International Service and was sometimes referred to as the "Voice of Canada" in its early years.- The early years :The idea for creating an...
. In 1936 the group performed for the CBS radio network in New York where McIver was also engaged as a staff arranger.
The TL continued to perform actively in public concerts and 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...
programs like The Play of the Week, Light Up and Listen. and Serenade for Strings up until the mid-1960s when it disbanded. The group re-united briefly in the autumn of 1971 for CBC broadcasts honoring Daunais and his work. In 1984 the album Le Trio lyrique chante Lionel Daunais was released; containing music from the ensemble's many radio broadcasts. All of the arrangements performed during the TL's performance history were by McIver.
Composer, arranger, and conductor
During the 1930s McIVer began composing background music for many of the Canadian Broadcasting CorporationCanadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
's radio drama
Radio drama
Radio drama is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and story...
s. During World War II he wrote and conducted music for the shows sponsored by the Canada Savings Bond
Canada Savings Bond
Canada Savings Bonds are investment instruments offered by the Government of Canada on sale between October and April every year. Unlike a true marketable bond, Canada Savings Bonds or CSBs are debentures....
and other radio broadcasts in Montreal. He also served as a conductor for entertainments given at army bases throughout Canada by Jack Benny
Jack Benny
Jack Benny was an American comedian, vaudevillian, and actor for radio, television, and film...
.
During the 1950s and 1960s, McIVer worked actively as a music director of variety programs for both CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
and 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 notably directed the music for the 5 Septembee 1952 opening telecast of CBC (Montreal) TV. Among the programs he directed were Silhouettes, Paillettes, Northern Electric Concert, Le Trio lyrique, and Sunday Night Shows. He also composed the film score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
for the feature picture Le Rossignol et les cloches and wrote a number of orchestral works.
Having never retired, McIver died in Montreal in 1969 at the age of 65.