Joseph Beaulieu
Encyclopedia
Joseph Beaulieu was a Canadian composer
, folklorist, and music educator. He traveled extensively throughout Canada collecting folk songs, which he compiled in several published books. As a composer, his works reflect his strong interest in folk music in there structure and melody. He wrote over 200 works, most of them folk-inspired songs or sacred songs. Also of note is his operetta
Le Trésor du pauvre and his mass
for four mixed voices, the Vatican II Mass, which was written for ceremonies held during the Second Vatican Council
. A number of his pieces have been published by La Bonne Chanson and Thompson.
, Beaulieu began his musical training at the relatively late age of 20, studying piano
with Oscar O'Brien
and Amédée Tremblay
in Ottawa
. He soon after began performing in evening entertainments with his teachers and baritone
Charles Marchand. With Marchand he traveled throughout the provinces of Ontario and Quebec giving concerts of folk music. During these travels, he began collecting Canadian folksongs which became a lifelong passion of his.
In the early 1920s, Beaulieu pursued further training at the Canadian Conservatory of Music
where he was a student of Harry Puddicombe
, ultimately joining the conservatory's faculty. After the conservatory closed in 1937, he joined the faculty of the University of Ottawa
where he taught courses in piano, singing, and business. In 1942 he became a voice teacher at the Benedictines of St-Benoît-du-Lac.
In 1931 Beaulieu founded the Petits Chanteurs céciliens, a musical ensemble dedicated to performing Canadian folk music. He served as the ensemble's director through 1943 and for this group he arranged many Canadian folk songs from his collection. He published several books of Canadian folk song collections, including Chantez, les petits (Thompson 1960), the eight-volume series Mon école chante (La Bonne Chanson 1956-64), Gerbes de chansons nouvelles and Chantez petits et grands.
In 1943 Beaulieu moved to Toronto to assume the role of assistant director in charge of music education for the Ontario Ministry of Education. He remained in that post for the next 22 years. He was also highly active teaching in the North Bay area where he died in 1965 at the age of 70.
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...
, folklorist, and music educator. He traveled extensively throughout Canada collecting folk songs, which he compiled in several published books. As a composer, his works reflect his strong interest in folk music in there structure and melody. He wrote over 200 works, most of them folk-inspired songs or sacred songs. Also of note is his operetta
Operetta
Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.-Origins:...
Le Trésor du pauvre and his mass
Mass (music)
The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy to music...
for four mixed voices, the Vatican II Mass, which was written for ceremonies held during the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
. A number of his pieces have been published by La Bonne Chanson and Thompson.
Life
Born in Mattawa, OntarioMattawa, Ontario
Mattawa is a town in northeastern Ontario, Canada, at the confluence of the Mattawa and Ottawa Rivers in Nipissing District. Mattawa means "Meeting of the Waters" in Ojibwa...
, Beaulieu began his musical training at the relatively late age of 20, studying piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
with Oscar O'Brien
Oscar O'Brien
Oscar O'Brien was a Canadian folklorist, composer, pianist, organist, music educator, and Roman Catholic priest...
and Amédée Tremblay
Amédée Tremblay
Pierre-Joseph Amédée Tremblay was a Canadian organist, composer, and music educator. A largely self-taught composer, his output includes several motets, two masses, a few patriotic songs, works for solo organ, and the operetta L'Intransigeant...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. He soon after began performing in evening entertainments with his teachers and 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...
Charles Marchand. With Marchand he traveled throughout the provinces of Ontario and Quebec giving concerts of folk music. During these travels, he began collecting Canadian folksongs which became a lifelong passion of his.
In the early 1920s, Beaulieu pursued further training at the Canadian Conservatory of Music
Canadian Conservatory of Music
The Canadian Conservatory of Music was a music conservatory in Ottawa, Canada that was actively providing higher education in music during the first half of the 20th century. Founded by Harry Puddicombe in 1902, the school was located on Bay Street...
where he was a student of Harry Puddicombe
Harry Puddicombe
Harry Puddicombe was a Canadian composer, pianist, and music educator. He is best remembered for his work as a teacher, notably founding the Canadian Conservatory of Music in 1902 and serving as its director for 35 years...
, ultimately joining the conservatory's faculty. After the conservatory closed in 1937, he joined the faculty of the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
where he taught courses in piano, singing, and business. In 1942 he became a voice teacher at the Benedictines of St-Benoît-du-Lac.
In 1931 Beaulieu founded the Petits Chanteurs céciliens, a musical ensemble dedicated to performing Canadian folk music. He served as the ensemble's director through 1943 and for this group he arranged many Canadian folk songs from his collection. He published several books of Canadian folk song collections, including Chantez, les petits (Thompson 1960), the eight-volume series Mon école chante (La Bonne Chanson 1956-64), Gerbes de chansons nouvelles and Chantez petits et grands.
In 1943 Beaulieu moved to Toronto to assume the role of assistant director in charge of music education for the Ontario Ministry of Education. He remained in that post for the next 22 years. He was also highly active teaching in the North Bay area where he died in 1965 at the age of 70.