Paul Pratt
Encyclopedia
Paul Pratt was a Canadian clarinet
ist, pianist
, conductor
, music educator, composer
, and public administrator. His compositional output includes marches, waltzes, a Fantaisie-Impromptu for band, and some works for solo piano.
, Pratt studied in his native city before moving to Montreal where he was a pupil of Orpha-F. Deveaux
, Arthur Letondal, and François Héraly
(clarinet) at the Conservatoire national de musique
. He earned a lauréat diploma in the clarinet from the conservatoire in 1912. In 1913 he joined the music faculty of the Collège de Longueuil where he taught courses in piano and clarinet and conducted the college's orchestra and band until 1920. During these years he also served as the Longueuil Concert Society's orchestra conductor and bandmaster, and taught solfège
at the Société St-Jean-Baptiste.
Pratt was a clarinetist in the Symphonie Dubois in 1916-1917 and in the Canadian Grenadier Guards Band
from 1919-1939. He was the Montreal Orchestra's bass clarinetist from 1931-1941 and played the contrabass clarinet for the CSM orchestra from 1935-1946. He also played the clarinet in the Little Symphony of Montreal and the Van der Meerschen band in St-Lambert. From 1950-1967 he was music director of the Metropolitan Concert Band of Montreal and from 1956-1957 he was president of the Canadian Band Association's Quebec and Ontario divisions. He also served for some years as the music director of the South Shore Band of Longueuil and the Gais Longueuillois Quartet.
In 1935 Pratt was elected the mayor of Longueuil. He enjoyed wide popularity in that post, and remained mayor for the next 31 years, stepping down in 1966. He was decorated twice while in office, once by George V of the United Kingdom
in 1935 and once by George VI of the United Kingdom
in 1939, the latter for his activities in the War Campaign. He died in Longueuil in 1967 at the age of 72.
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, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, 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, 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...
, and public administrator. His compositional output includes marches, waltzes, a Fantaisie-Impromptu for band, and some works for solo piano.
Life and career
Born in LongueuilLongueuil
Longueuil is a city in the province of Quebec, Canada. It is the seat of the Montérégie administrative region and sits on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River directly across from Montreal. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census totaled 229,330, making it the third largest city in...
, Pratt studied in his native city before moving to Montreal where he was a pupil of Orpha-F. Deveaux
Orpha-F. Deveaux
Orpha-F. Deveaux was an American organist, pianist, and music educator. Born in Saginaw, Michigan, he studied at the New York College of Music with Mat Schmidt and privately in Montreal with Alexis Contant and Percival J. Illsley...
, Arthur Letondal, and François Héraly
François Héraly
J. A. François Héraly was a Canadian clarinetist, bandmaster, and music educator of Belgian birth. Born in the small town of Flavin near Namur, Héraly began studying music privately in 1867 in Brussels. He entered the Namur Conservatory in 1873 where he was a member of the regimental band...
(clarinet) at the Conservatoire national de musique
Conservatoire national de musique
Conservatoire national de musique was a music conservatory in Montreal, Quebec that was actively providing higher education in music during the first eight decades of the 20th century...
. He earned a lauréat diploma in the clarinet from the conservatoire in 1912. In 1913 he joined the music faculty of the Collège de Longueuil where he taught courses in piano and clarinet and conducted the college's orchestra and band until 1920. During these years he also served as the Longueuil Concert Society's orchestra conductor and bandmaster, and taught solfège
Solfege
In music, solfège is a pedagogical solmization technique for the teaching of sight-singing in which each note of the score is sung to a special syllable, called a solfège syllable...
at the Société St-Jean-Baptiste.
Pratt was a clarinetist in the Symphonie Dubois in 1916-1917 and in the Canadian Grenadier Guards Band
Canadian Grenadier Guards Band
The Canadian Grenadier Guards Band was a Canadian military band that was active for more than 60 years during the 20th century. In addition to performing for military events, the band had an active concert schedule which brought them to performance venues throughout North America...
from 1919-1939. He was the Montreal Orchestra's bass clarinetist from 1931-1941 and played the contrabass clarinet for the CSM orchestra from 1935-1946. He also played the clarinet in the Little Symphony of Montreal and the Van der Meerschen band in St-Lambert. From 1950-1967 he was music director of the Metropolitan Concert Band of Montreal and from 1956-1957 he was president of the Canadian Band Association's Quebec and Ontario divisions. He also served for some years as the music director of the South Shore Band of Longueuil and the Gais Longueuillois Quartet.
In 1935 Pratt was elected the mayor of Longueuil. He enjoyed wide popularity in that post, and remained mayor for the next 31 years, stepping down in 1966. He was decorated twice while in office, once by George V of the United Kingdom
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
in 1935 and once by George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
in 1939, the latter for his activities in the War Campaign. He died in Longueuil in 1967 at the age of 72.