Jean Vallerand
Encyclopedia
Jean Vallerand, CQ
(December 24, 1915 – June 24, 1994) was a composer
, music critic, violin
ist, conductor
, arts administrator, writer
, and music educator from Quebec
. As a composer he was active from 1935 to 1969. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre
, he was appointed a Knight of the National Order of Quebec
in 1991.
, Vallerand began studying the violin
at age 5 with Lucien Sicotte, with whom he continued to study until he was 20. He entered the Université de Montréal
in 1934 where he studied classical literature, earning a diploma there in 1938. While there he pursued private studies in music theory
and music composition with Claude Champagne
from 1935-1942.
Vallerand began his career as a music critic in 1941 when he succeeded Léo-Pol Morin
as critic at Le Canada. He remained there through 1946, going on to hold posts as music critic at Montréal-Matin
(1948–1949), Le Devoir
(1952–1961), Le Nouveau Journal (1961–1962), and La Presse (1962–1966). He also reviewed cultural events for CBC Radio
and CBC Television
during the 1940s through the 1960s. He contributed articles to numerous periodicals and journals, including L'Action universitaire, Amérique francaise, Culture vivante, Gants du ciel, Liberté, Maclean, Musical America
, Relations, and Vie musicale. He also worked as the program annotator for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
for many years appeared numerous times as a host for the French language version of the Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts
.
In 1942 Vallerand was appointed Secretary General of the newly formed Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal (CMQM) by Wilfrid Pelletier
. He remained in that post and taught orchestration at the school up through 1963. He also taught concurrently on the music faculty of the Université de Montréal from 1950-1966. From 1963-1956 he served as the head of the Montreal branch of CBC Radio
and from 1966-1970 he was the Quebec Government's cultural attaché in Paris.
In 1971 Vallerand became the head of the Conservatoire de musique et d'art dramatique du Québec
(CMADQ) which at that time oversaw 8 conservatories in higher education in music and theatre in Québec. He remained in that position through 1978, during which time he was instrumental in establishing a 9th conservatoire, the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Rimouski, in 1973. He also served concurrently as the director of music education for the Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec (MACQ) in 1971, and was then repositioned as director of performing arts for the organization from 1971 though 1975. In 1977-1978 he was secretary general of the Orchestre des jeunes du Québec. He also worked as a consultant for the CMQM and the MACQ throughout the 1970s. He retired in 1980.
National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
(December 24, 1915 – June 24, 1994) was a 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...
, music critic, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, 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...
, arts administrator, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, and music educator from Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. As a composer he was active from 1935 to 1969. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre
Canadian Music Centre
The Canadian Music Centre holds Canada's largest collection of Canadian concert music. The CMC exists to promote the works of its Associate Composers in Canada and around the world....
, he was appointed a Knight of the National Order of Quebec
National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
in 1991.
Life
Born in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Vallerand began studying the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
at age 5 with Lucien Sicotte, with whom he continued to study until he was 20. He entered the Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
in 1934 where he studied classical literature, earning a diploma there in 1938. While there he pursued private studies in music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
and music composition with Claude Champagne
Claude Champagne
Claude Champagne was a Canadian composer.Born in Montreal, Quebec, he studied violin with Albert Chamberland, organ with Orpha-F. Deveaux, and piano with Romain-Octave Pelletier I and Alexis Contant at the Conservatoire national de musique. In 1921 he went straight to Paris to study music...
from 1935-1942.
Vallerand began his career as a music critic in 1941 when he succeeded Léo-Pol Morin
Léo-Pol Morin
Léo-Pol Morin was a Canadian pianist, music critic, composer, and music educator. He composed under the name James Callihou, with his most well known works being Suite canadienne and Three Eskimos for piano. He also composed works based on Canadian and Inuit folklore/folk music and harmonized a...
as critic at Le Canada. He remained there through 1946, going on to hold posts as music critic at Montréal-Matin
Montréal-Matin
Montréal-Matin was a Quebec daily newspaper based in Montreal. It was published from 1930 to 1978. It was politically associated to the Conservative Party of Quebec and, afterwards, its successor the Union Nationale...
(1948–1949), Le Devoir
Le Devoir
Le Devoir is a French-language newspaper published in Montreal and distributed in Quebec and the rest of Canada. It was founded by journalist, politician, and nationalist Henri Bourassa in 1910....
(1952–1961), Le Nouveau Journal (1961–1962), and La Presse (1962–1966). He also reviewed cultural events 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...
and 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...
during the 1940s through the 1960s. He contributed articles to numerous periodicals and journals, including L'Action universitaire, Amérique francaise, Culture vivante, Gants du ciel, Liberté, Maclean, Musical America
Musical America
Musical America is the oldest American magazine on classical music. Presently it is a website with a weekly online magazine. It is currently published by UBM Global Trade.-History:...
, Relations, and Vie musicale. He also worked as the program annotator for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is a symphony orchestra based in Montréal, Québec, Canada, with Montréal's Place des Arts as its home.-History:...
for many years appeared numerous times as a host for the French language version of the Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts
Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts
The Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts are a regular series of weekly broadcasts on network radio of full-length opera performances. They are transmitted live from the stage of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City...
.
In 1942 Vallerand was appointed Secretary General of the newly formed Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal (CMQM) by Wilfrid Pelletier
Wilfrid Pelletier
Joseph Louis Wilfrid Pelletier , CC was a Canadian conductor, pianist, composer, and arts administrator. He was instrumental in establishing the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, serving as the orchestra's first artistic director and conductor from 1935-1941...
. He remained in that post and taught orchestration at the school up through 1963. He also taught concurrently on the music faculty of the Université de Montréal from 1950-1966. From 1963-1956 he served as the head of the Montreal branch of 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...
and from 1966-1970 he was the Quebec Government's cultural attaché in Paris.
In 1971 Vallerand became the head of the Conservatoire de musique et d'art dramatique du Québec
Conservatoire de musique et d'art dramatique du Québec
The Conservatoire de musique et d'art dramatique du Québec is a public network of nine state-subsidised schools offering higher education in music and theatre in Quebec, Canada. The organization was established in 1942 as a branch of the Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec by the...
(CMADQ) which at that time oversaw 8 conservatories in higher education in music and theatre in Québec. He remained in that position through 1978, during which time he was instrumental in establishing a 9th conservatoire, the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Rimouski, in 1973. He also served concurrently as the director of music education for the Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec (MACQ) in 1971, and was then repositioned as director of performing arts for the organization from 1971 though 1975. In 1977-1978 he was secretary general of the Orchestre des jeunes du Québec. He also worked as a consultant for the CMQM and the MACQ throughout the 1970s. He retired in 1980.
Selected works
- Les Roses à la mer, 1935
- Le Diable dans le beffroi, 1942
- Nocturne, 1946
- Prélude, 1948
- Sonata for Violin and Piano, 1950
- Concerto for Orchestra, 1951
- Quatre Poèmes de Saint-Denys Garneau, 1954
- String Quartet, 1955
- Réverbérations contractoires, 1961
- Le Magicien, operaOperaOpera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, 1961 - Payse, Ballett, 1964
- Étude concertante for Violin and Orchestra, 1969