Allard de Ridder
Encyclopedia
Allard de Ridder was a Canadian conductor
, violist
, and composer
of Dutch birth. He was notably the first conductor of both the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
and the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra
, the latter of which he founded in 1944. As a composer he produced several orchestra
l works, including a violin concerto
, four symphonic poem
s, a Sketch for flute, violin, and orchestra, Overture in D, and Intermezzo. He also wrote a string quartet
, the scherzo
Beware of Love for a cappella
choir
, and a number of songs.
, Holland, De Ridder graduated from the Hochschule für Musik Köln
where he studied violin and conducting with such teachers as Willem Mengelberg
, Fritz Steinbach
, and Johan Wagenaar
. He began his career as a conductor in Europe, serving as a guest conductor in Arnhem, The Hague, Amsterdam, and other European cities during the second decade of the 20th century. He was conductor of the Netherlands National Opera from 1917-1919.
In 1919 De Ridder emigrated to the United States where he first worked as a violist in the Boston Symphony Orchestra
and then the Richmond Symphony. In the early 1920s he became assistant conductor and principal violist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
(LAP). Many of his orchestral compositions were premiered by American orchestras like the LAP during the 1920s.
in 1930, a post he held until 1941. Initially the post was part time, as the orchestra performed only four concerts annually during its first three seasons. However, in 1933 Ridder moved to Vancouver as the orchestra's concert offerings began to expand significantly. Shortly after moving to that city he formed the chamber group the Allard de Ridder Chamber Music Quartette which he actively directed and performed with during the 1930s. In 1934 he established a summer concert series for the VSO at the newly built Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park
, a venue which he was instrumental in convincing William Harold Malkin
to build. He also worked as a guest lecturer at the University of British Columbia
during the late 1930s.
In 1941 De Ridder left Vancouver for Toronto
to join the music faculty at the Toronto Conservatory of Music. Shortly after his arrival he joined the Hart House String Quartet. He also served as a guest conductor of the Promenade Symphony Concerts in 1942 and both the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
and National Symphony Orchestra in 1943. He left Vancouver in 1944 to found the Ottawa Philharmonic Orchestra (now Ottawa Symphony Orchestra), serving as the group's first conductor through 1950.
In 1952 De Ridder moved back to Vancouver where he remained for the rest of his life. He conducted the Holland Choir in that city during the 1950s, notably leading the group in a performance of his own Variations on a Swabian Folk Song in 1957 with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. He continued to teach conducting, viola, and composition in Vancouver up until his death there in 1966 at the age of 79. Among his notable pupils are John Avison
, Lloyd Blackman
, Bryan N.S. Gooch, Hans Gruber
, Klemi Hambourg, Ricky Hyslop
, and Doug Randle.
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...
, violist
Violist
-Notable violists:A* Julia Rebekka Adler * Sir Hugh Allen , conductor* Kris Allen * Johann Andreas Amon * Paul Angerer , composer* Steven Ansell * Atar Arad * Cecil Aronowitz...
, 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...
of Dutch birth. He was notably the first conductor of both the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra performing in Vancouver, British Columbia. Over 240,000 people attend its live performances each year. It was founded in 1930 and plays in 12 venues. Its home is the Orpheum theatre. With an annual operating budget of $9.5 million, it is the...
and the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra
Ottawa Symphony Orchestra
The Ottawa Symphony Orchestra is a full size orchestra in Ottawa including professional, student and amateur musicians. With around 100 musicians, the OSO is Ottawa's largest orchestra, which allows it to perform large symphonic repertoire of the 19th and 20th centuries, including works by...
, the latter of which he founded in 1944. As a composer he produced several 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...
l works, including a violin concerto
Violin concerto
A violin concerto is a concerto for solo violin and instrumental ensemble, customarily orchestra. Such works have been written since the Baroque period, when the solo concerto form was first developed, up through the present day...
, four symphonic poem
Symphonic poem
A symphonic poem or tone poem is a piece of orchestral music in a single continuous section in which the content of a poem, a story or novel, a painting, a landscape or another source is illustrated or evoked. The term was first applied by Hungarian composer Franz Liszt to his 13 works in this vein...
s, a Sketch for flute, violin, and orchestra, Overture in D, and Intermezzo. He also wrote a string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
, the scherzo
Scherzo
A scherzo is a piece of music, often a movement from a larger piece such as a symphony or a sonata. The scherzo's precise definition has varied over the years, but it often refers to a movement which replaces the minuet as the third movement in a four-movement work, such as a symphony, sonata, or...
Beware of Love for a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
choir
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...
, and a number of songs.
Early life and career in Europe and the United States
Born in DordrechtDordrecht
Dordrecht , colloquially Dordt, historically in English named Dort, is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, located in the province of South Holland. It is the fourth largest city of the province, having a population of 118,601 in 2009...
, Holland, De Ridder graduated from the Hochschule für Musik Köln
Hochschule für Musik Köln
The Cologne University of Music is a music college in Cologne, and Germany's largest academy of music.-History:The academy was founded by Ferdinand Hiller in 1850 as Conservatorium der Musik in Coeln...
where he studied violin and conducting with such teachers as Willem Mengelberg
Willem Mengelberg
Joseph Willem Mengelberg was a Dutch conductor, famous for his performances of Mahler and Strauss with the Concertgebouw Orchestra.- Biography :...
, Fritz Steinbach
Fritz Steinbach
Fritz Steinbach was a German conductor and composer who was particularly associated with the works of Johannes Brahms. Born in Grünsfeld, he was the brother of conductor Emil Steinbach. He studied at the Leipzig Conservatory and in Vienna. Among his teachers were Martin Gustav Nottebohm and Anton...
, and Johan Wagenaar
Johan Wagenaar
Johan Wagenaar was a Dutch composer and organist.-Life:Born in Utrecht, out of wedlock, he was the son of Cypriaan Gerard Berger van Hengst and Johanna Wagenaar. Wagenaar's parents were of different social strata: his father was an aristocrat, while his mother was of more humble origins...
. He began his career as a conductor in Europe, serving as a guest conductor in Arnhem, The Hague, Amsterdam, and other European cities during the second decade of the 20th century. He was conductor of the Netherlands National Opera from 1917-1919.
In 1919 De Ridder emigrated to the United States where he first worked as a violist in the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
and then the Richmond Symphony. In the early 1920s he became assistant conductor and principal violist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
(LAP). Many of his orchestral compositions were premiered by American orchestras like the LAP during the 1920s.
Life and career in Canada
De Ridder was appointed the first conductor of the Vancouver Symphony OrchestraVancouver Symphony Orchestra
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra performing in Vancouver, British Columbia. Over 240,000 people attend its live performances each year. It was founded in 1930 and plays in 12 venues. Its home is the Orpheum theatre. With an annual operating budget of $9.5 million, it is the...
in 1930, a post he held until 1941. Initially the post was part time, as the orchestra performed only four concerts annually during its first three seasons. However, in 1933 Ridder moved to Vancouver as the orchestra's concert offerings began to expand significantly. Shortly after moving to that city he formed the chamber group the Allard de Ridder Chamber Music Quartette which he actively directed and performed with during the 1930s. In 1934 he established a summer concert series for the VSO at the newly built Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park
Stanley Park
Stanley Park is a 404.9 hectare urban park bordering downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was opened in 1888 by David Oppenheimer in the name of Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor-General of Canada....
, a venue which he was instrumental in convincing William Harold Malkin
William Harold Malkin
William Harold Malkin was the 21st mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia from 1929 to 1930, after serving as Chairman of the Vancouver Board of Trade in 1902...
to build. He also worked as a guest lecturer at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
during the late 1930s.
In 1941 De Ridder left Vancouver for Toronto
Toronto
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...
to join the music faculty at the Toronto Conservatory of Music. Shortly after his arrival he joined the Hart House String Quartet. He also served as a guest conductor of the Promenade Symphony Concerts in 1942 and both the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:The TSO was founded in 1922 as the New Symphony Orchestra, and gave its first concert at Massey Hall in April 1923. The orchestra changed its name to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1927. The TSO...
and National Symphony Orchestra in 1943. He left Vancouver in 1944 to found the Ottawa Philharmonic Orchestra (now Ottawa Symphony Orchestra), serving as the group's first conductor through 1950.
In 1952 De Ridder moved back to Vancouver where he remained for the rest of his life. He conducted the Holland Choir in that city during the 1950s, notably leading the group in a performance of his own Variations on a Swabian Folk Song in 1957 with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. He continued to teach conducting, viola, and composition in Vancouver up until his death there in 1966 at the age of 79. Among his notable pupils are John Avison
John Avison
John Avison, CM was a Canadian conductor and pianist. From 1938 to 1980, he was the founding conductor of the CBC Vancouver Chamber Orchestra . He was a longtime member of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and was married to VSO violinist Angelina Avison...
, Lloyd Blackman
Lloyd Blackman (musician)
Lloyd Edgar Blackman is a Canadian violinist, conductor, composer, and music educator.-Life and career:Born in Winnipeg, Blackman studied the violin in his native city with John Waterhouse and George Bornoff and music theory with W.H. Anderson. He earned a Licenciate from The Royal Conservatory of...
, Bryan N.S. Gooch, Hans Gruber
Hans Gruber
Hans Gruber was a Canadian conductor of Austrian birth.Born in Vienna, Gruber became a naturalised Canadian citizen in 1944. He entered The Royal Conservatory of Music in 1939 where he was a conducting student of Allard de Ridder...
, Klemi Hambourg, Ricky Hyslop
Ricky Hyslop
Ricky Hyslop was a Canadian violinist, conductor, composer, and arranger. He was commissioned to write worksby the Buffalo Philharmonic , clarinetist Avrahm Galper , and guitarist Gregory Alliston...
, and Doug Randle.