Michel Perrault
Encyclopedia
Michel Brunet Perrault is a Canadian composer
, conductor
, music educator, and percussionist. As a composer, his work largely pulls on Canadian folk melodies and his compositions avoid modernism in favor of classical ideas of harmony
and counterpoint
. He described his own work in these words, "I'm a classicist living in the wrong period. Dodecaphonism, serialism
, or any other ism, are not for me. I like a folk tune and the harmony that goes with it." Perrault has been commissioned to write works for such notable organizations as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens
, and the Victoria Symphony Orchestra. From the late 1970s through the 1990s he wrote a considerable amount of music for the Gerald Danovitch Saxophone Quartet
. Much of his music has been published by his own publishing company, Les Publications Bonart.
Perrault studied at McGill University
under Louis Decair from 1941-1943. He then entered the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal where he was a pupil of Réal Gagnier from 1943-1944. He also studied privately with Gabriel Cusson
between 1943-1946. He then studied in France at the École Normale de Musique de Paris
with Nadia Boulanger
, Georges Dandelot
, and Arthur Honegger
from 1946-1947. After returning to Canada he studied privately with Conrad Letendre.
He served as a percussionist in the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
from 1944–1946 and 1949-1965. He held the same post with the Little Symphony of Montreal in 1945-1946. During the 1950s and 1960s he worked in a variety of capacities for the CBC, including serving as the conductor of the CBC Montreal Orchestra and working as a prolific composer of music for radio. In 1950 he was awarded the Radiomonde prize for his radio scores. From 1958-1962 he held the post of music director of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens
. In 1970 he co-founded the Institut de recherche Pantonal Inc. Among his notable pupils are Yves Lapierre
and Albert Viau
.
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...
, 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...
, music educator, and percussionist. As a composer, his work largely pulls on Canadian folk melodies and his compositions avoid modernism in favor of classical ideas of 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...
and counterpoint
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
. He described his own work in these words, "I'm a classicist living in the wrong period. Dodecaphonism, serialism
Serialism
In music, serialism is a method or technique of composition that uses a series of values to manipulate different musical elements. Serialism began primarily with Arnold Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique, though his contemporaries were also working to establish serialism as one example of...
, or any other ism, are not for me. I like a folk tune and the harmony that goes with it." Perrault has been commissioned to write works for such notable organizations as 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...
, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens
Les Grands Ballets Canadiens
Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal is a Canadian ballet company based in Montreal, Quebec.It was founded in 1957 by Ludmilla Chiriaeff. Conductor and composer Michel Perrault served as the organization's first music director. In 2000, Gradimir Pankov became Artistic Director...
, and the Victoria Symphony Orchestra. From the late 1970s through the 1990s he wrote a considerable amount of music for the Gerald Danovitch Saxophone Quartet
Gerald Danovitch Saxophone Quartet
-References:*Rowland, Hilary. 'Meet the man behind all that campus jazz,' Montreal Gazette, 27 Oct 1984*McLean, Eric. 'Sax quartet makes strange mix,' ibid, 12 Mar 1988*Tanner, David. 'Gerald Danovitch,' Saxophone Journal, vol 14, Jul-Aug 1989...
. Much of his music has been published by his own publishing company, Les Publications Bonart.
Perrault studied at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
under Louis Decair from 1941-1943. He then entered the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal where he was a pupil of Réal Gagnier from 1943-1944. He also studied privately with Gabriel Cusson
Gabriel Cusson
Gabriel Cusson was a Canadian composer and music educator. As a composer, his music was heavily influenced by the style of early 20th century French composers...
between 1943-1946. He then studied in France at the École Normale de Musique de Paris
École Normale de Musique de Paris
The École Normale de Musique de Paris is a leading conservatoire located in Paris, France. The school was founded by Auguste Mangeot and pianist Alfred Cortot in 1919...
with Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger was a French composer, conductor and teacher who taught many composers and performers of the 20th century.From a musical family, she achieved early honours as a student at the Paris Conservatoire, but believing that her talent as a composer was inferior to that of her younger...
, Georges Dandelot
Georges Dandelot
Georges Édouard Dandelot was a French composer.-Biography:Dandelot's father was Alfred Dandelot, and his mother was the daughter of a piano maker...
, and Arthur Honegger
Arthur Honegger
Arthur Honegger was a Swiss composer, who was born in France and lived a large part of his life in Paris. He was a member of Les six. His most frequently performed work is probably the orchestral work Pacific 231, which is interpreted as imitating the sound of a steam locomotive.-Biography:Born...
from 1946-1947. After returning to Canada he studied privately with Conrad Letendre.
He served as a percussionist in 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:...
from 1944–1946 and 1949-1965. He held the same post with the Little Symphony of Montreal in 1945-1946. During the 1950s and 1960s he worked in a variety of capacities for the CBC, including serving as the conductor of the CBC Montreal Orchestra and working as a prolific composer of music for radio. In 1950 he was awarded the Radiomonde prize for his radio scores. From 1958-1962 he held the post of music director of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens
Les Grands Ballets Canadiens
Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal is a Canadian ballet company based in Montreal, Quebec.It was founded in 1957 by Ludmilla Chiriaeff. Conductor and composer Michel Perrault served as the organization's first music director. In 2000, Gradimir Pankov became Artistic Director...
. In 1970 he co-founded the Institut de recherche Pantonal Inc. Among his notable pupils are Yves Lapierre
Yves Lapierre
Yves Lapierre is a Canadian composer, arranger, record producer, and singer. He began his career performing and recording with the folk vocal quartet Les Cailloux during the 1960s. In the 1970s and 1980s he was highly active as a composer, arranger, and record producer for a large number of...
and Albert Viau
Albert Viau
Albert Viau was a Canadian baritone, folksinger, composer, and music educator. After beginning his career as a musician in the classical repertoire, he specialized in folk music and traditional songs. He released about 50 78 rpm records during his career, mostly for La Bonne Chanson...
.