Joseph Gagnier
Encyclopedia
Joseph Gagnier was a Canadian clarinet
ist and the father of an important Canadian family of musicians.
, Gagnier moved to Montreal in 1874 after deciding to pursue a music career. In that city he studied the clarinet with Oscar Arnold and Jacques Vanpoucke. He was also a student of music theory
with Joseph Geai and Ernest Lavigne.
Gagnier began his career performing in the orchestras of a variety of Montreal theatres during the late late 1870s and 1880s. From 1890-1919 he was clarinetist at Sohmer Park. In the 1905-1906 season he, along with his son J.-J. Gagnier
, became a bassoonist in J.-J. Goulet's Montreal Symphony Orchestra, following the endemble's unsuccessful attempt to acquire two bassoonists among the city's other musicians. He continued to play with that orchestra as a clarinetist up into the latter years of his life. He died in Montreal in 1919.
Gagnier was the father of 27 children. He taught music and a variety of instruments to most of them, "thus forming a veritable Gagnier orchestra". Many of his children became notable musicians, including Armand Gagnier, Ernest Gagnier, Guillaume Gagnier, J.-J. Gagnier
, Lucien Gagnier, Réal Gagnier, and René Gagnier
. Several of his grandchildren became notable musicians, including Claire Gagnier, Ève Gagnier, Gérald Gagnier
, and Roland Gagnier.
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
ist and the father of an important Canadian family of musicians.
Life and career
Born in L'Ancienne-Lorette, QuebecL'Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec
L'Ancienne-Lorette is a city in central Quebec, Canada. It is a suburb of and an enclave within Quebec City. It was merged with Quebec City from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2005, but was re-established as a separate city on January 1, 2006....
, Gagnier moved to Montreal in 1874 after deciding to pursue a music career. In that city he studied the clarinet with Oscar Arnold and Jacques Vanpoucke. He was also a student of 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...
with Joseph Geai and Ernest Lavigne.
Gagnier began his career performing in the orchestras of a variety of Montreal theatres during the late late 1870s and 1880s. From 1890-1919 he was clarinetist at Sohmer Park. In the 1905-1906 season he, along with his son J.-J. Gagnier
J.-J. Gagnier
Jean-Josaphat Gagnier was a Canadian conductor, composer, clarinetist, bassoonist, pianist, arts administrator, and music educator. His compositional output mainly consists of works for orchestra and band, although he did write some choral pieces, songs, works for solo piano and organ, some...
, became a bassoonist in J.-J. Goulet's Montreal Symphony Orchestra, following the endemble's unsuccessful attempt to acquire two bassoonists among the city's other musicians. He continued to play with that orchestra as a clarinetist up into the latter years of his life. He died in Montreal in 1919.
Gagnier was the father of 27 children. He taught music and a variety of instruments to most of them, "thus forming a veritable Gagnier orchestra". Many of his children became notable musicians, including Armand Gagnier, Ernest Gagnier, Guillaume Gagnier, J.-J. Gagnier
J.-J. Gagnier
Jean-Josaphat Gagnier was a Canadian conductor, composer, clarinetist, bassoonist, pianist, arts administrator, and music educator. His compositional output mainly consists of works for orchestra and band, although he did write some choral pieces, songs, works for solo piano and organ, some...
, Lucien Gagnier, Réal Gagnier, and René Gagnier
René Gagnier
René Gagnier was a Canadian conductor, composer, euphonium player, violinist, and music educator. His compositional output includes several marches, waltzes, works for solo violin, and some chamber and symphonic music; all of which remains unpublished.-Life and career:Born in Montreal, Gagnier was...
. Several of his grandchildren became notable musicians, including Claire Gagnier, Ève Gagnier, Gérald Gagnier
Gérald Gagnier
Gérald Gagnier was a Canadian bandmaster, composer, and trumpeter. His compositional output includes the symphonic poem Polyphème, a Prélude for piano, a Suite romantique for strings, and Rolandineries for piano.-Life and career:Born in Montreal, Gagnier was the son of musician René Gagnier and...
, and Roland Gagnier.