Alfred De Sève
Encyclopedia
Alfred De Sève was a Canadian violin
ist, composer
, and music educator. His compositional output includes works for violin and piano, solo piano, and orchestra; many of which were published by Arthur P. Schmidt
and Charles H. Ditson.
, Montreal
, De Sève was a child prodigy
and began studying the violin with Oscar Martel
at the age of seven. After just six months of lessons, he gave his first public recital to critical acclaim. He later studied with Frantz Jehin-Prume
in Montreal and in 1876 studied in Paris with Pablo de Sarasate
, Hubert Léonard
, and Lambert Massart. From 1877-1879 he studied with Henri Vieuxtemps
in Paris and during that time served as Isabella II of Spain
's court violinist in addition to his active career as a concert violinist with a number of Paris orchestras and musical ensembles. After building his reputation in Europe, he returned to his native country and quickly became active as a concert violinist. He was accompanied in recitals by the pianist Joséphine Bruneau and the two married in 1880.
In 1881 De Sève relocated to Boston
, Massachusetts
in the United States
to join the faculty of the New England Conservatory. In 1891 he was appointed choirmaster at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross
after the death of Calixa Lavallée
. He was also a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
(BSO) and appeared as a soloist with the BSO on a number of occasions. His 18 February 1882 performance of Felix Mendelssohn
's Violin Concerto
and 15 December 1883 performance of Camille Saint-Saëns
' Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso were some of the earliest appearances of a Canadian musician with a major symphony orchestra in the United States. He also toured the United States several times BSO and served as the concertmaster of the Boston Philharmonic
.
De Sève returned to his native city in 1899 to join the music faculty at McGill University
. By this time he had amassed a large personal fortune and he spent a considerable amount of time managing his personal assets. He was also active as a private violin instructor. Some of his notable students included Alexander Brott
, Noël Brunet, Albert Chamberland
, Eugène Chartier
, René Gagnier
, Lucien Martin
, Marcel Saucier, Lucien Sicotte, and Ethel Stark
. He died in Montreal in 1927 at the age of 69. A street in has native city was named in his honour in 1931 and the "De Sève Quartet" was founded in Montreal in 1989; a group which included violinist Philippe Djokic
.
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, 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 music educator. His compositional output includes works for violin and piano, solo piano, and orchestra; many of which were published by Arthur P. Schmidt
Arthur P. Schmidt
Arthur P. Schmidt was an American film editor and producer. He had more than sixty film credits for editing from 1934 through 1962. In the 1950s, Schmidt edited five films directed by Billy Wilder, who has been called one of the great 20th Century filmmakers...
and Charles H. Ditson.
Life and career
Born in Saint-HenriSaint-Henri
Saint-Henri is a neighbourhood in southwestern Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in the borough of Le Sud-Ouest.Saint-Henri is usually considered to be bounded to the east by avenue Atwater, to the west by Autoroute 15, to the north by Autoroute 720, and to the south by the Lachine Canal.- Description...
, Montreal
Montreal
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...
, De Sève was a child prodigy
Child prodigy
A child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...
and began studying the violin with Oscar Martel
Oscar Martel
Oscar Martel was a renowned Canadian violinist and violin teacher. Born in L'Assomption, Quebec, he received his earliest violin instruction from his grandfather, Pierre Martel. He then studied at the Collège de L'Assomption and at the Royal Conservatory of Liège. He taught at both the New England...
at the age of seven. After just six months of lessons, he gave his first public recital to critical acclaim. He later studied with Frantz Jehin-Prume
Frantz Jehin-Prume
Frantz Jehin-Prume was a Canadian violinist, composer, and music educator of Belgian birth. He began his career as a highly successful concert violinist in Europe. From 1865 on he lived and worked mainly in Montreal, Canada; becoming one of the most important 19th century musical figures in Quebec...
in Montreal and in 1876 studied in Paris with Pablo de Sarasate
Pablo de Sarasate
Pablo Martín Melitón de Sarasate y Navascués was a Navarrese Spanish violinist and composer of the Romantic period.-Career:Pablo Sarasate was born in Pamplona, Navarre, the son of an artillery bandmaster...
, Hubert Léonard
Hubert Léonard
Hubert Léonard was a famous Belgian violinist, born at Bellaire, Liège. His earliest preparatory training was given by Rouma, after which he entered the Paris Conservatory in 1836, where he studied for three years under Habeneck. In 1844 he started his extended tours which established his...
, and Lambert Massart. From 1877-1879 he studied with Henri Vieuxtemps
Henri Vieuxtemps
Henri François Joseph Vieuxtemps was a Belgian composer and violinist. He occupies an important place in the history of the violin as a prominent exponent of the Franco-Belgian violin school during the mid-19th century....
in Paris and during that time served as Isabella II of Spain
Isabella II of Spain
Isabella II was the only female monarch of Spain in modern times. She came to the throne as an infant, but her succession was disputed by the Carlists, who refused to recognise a female sovereign, leading to the Carlist Wars. After a troubled reign, she was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of...
's court violinist in addition to his active career as a concert violinist with a number of Paris orchestras and musical ensembles. After building his reputation in Europe, he returned to his native country and quickly became active as a concert violinist. He was accompanied in recitals by the pianist Joséphine Bruneau and the two married in 1880.
In 1881 De Sève relocated to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to join the faculty of the New England Conservatory. In 1891 he was appointed choirmaster at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross
Cathedral of the Holy Cross
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston and the largest Roman Catholic church in New England....
after the death of Calixa Lavallée
Calixa Lavallée
Calixa Lavallée, , born Calixte Lavallée, was a French-Canadian-American musician and Union officer during the American Civil War who composed the music for O Canada, which officially became the national anthem of Canada in 1980.-Biography:Calixa Lavallée was born at Verchères, a suburb of...
. He was also a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
(BSO) and appeared as a soloist with the BSO on a number of occasions. His 18 February 1882 performance of Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
's Violin Concerto
Violin Concerto (Mendelssohn)
Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 is his last large orchestral work. It forms an important part of the violin repertoire and is one of the most popular and most frequently performed violin concertos of all time...
and 15 December 1883 performance of Camille Saint-Saëns
Camille Saint-Saëns
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was a French Late-Romantic composer, organist, conductor, and pianist. He is known especially for The Carnival of the Animals, Danse macabre, Samson and Delilah, Piano Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto No. 1, Havanaise, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, and his Symphony...
' Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso were some of the earliest appearances of a Canadian musician with a major symphony orchestra in the United States. He also toured the United States several times BSO and served as the concertmaster of the Boston Philharmonic
Boston Philharmonic
The Boston Philharmonic Orchestra is a semi-professional orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1979....
.
De Sève returned to his native city in 1899 to join the music faculty 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...
. By this time he had amassed a large personal fortune and he spent a considerable amount of time managing his personal assets. He was also active as a private violin instructor. Some of his notable students included Alexander Brott
Alexander Brott
Alexander Brott, , born Joël Brod, , was a Canadian conductor, composer, violinist and music teacher. His wife Lotte was an accomplished cellist...
, Noël Brunet, Albert Chamberland
Albert Chamberland
Albert Chamberland was a Canadian violinist, composer, conductor, music producer, and music educator. As a violinist he was highly active as a chamber musician with a number of notable ensembles, including the Beethoven Trio with whom he made some early recordings for His Master's Voice during the...
, Eugène Chartier
Eugène Chartier
Eugène Chartier was a Canadian violinist, violist, conductor, and teacher.Born in Montreal, Chartier studied the violin with Alfred De Sève and Oscar Martel. He played second violin with the Dubois String Quartet from 1915-20, and viola with the Chamberland String Quartet from 1920-25...
, 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...
, Lucien Martin
Lucien Martin
Lucien Martin was a Canadian violinist, conductor, and composer. Only one of his compositions was published, the art song La Chanson des belles, which was performed by Jeanne Desjardins in its premiere on the CBC Radio program Sérénade pour cordes.-Life and career:Born in Montreal, Martin was the...
, Marcel Saucier, Lucien Sicotte, and Ethel Stark
Ethel Stark
Ethel Stark, is a Canadian violinist and conductor.Born in Montreal, she studied at the McGill Conservatory of Music with Alfred De Sève and Alfred Whitehead. From 1928 to 1934, she studied at the Curtis Institute of Music with Lea Luboshutz, Louis Bailly, Artur Rodziński, Fritz Reiner and Carl...
. He died in Montreal in 1927 at the age of 69. A street in has native city was named in his honour in 1931 and the "De Sève Quartet" was founded in Montreal in 1989; a group which included violinist Philippe Djokic
Philippe Djokic
Philippe Djokic is a Canadian violinist, conductor, and music educator of French birth. He became a naturalized Canadian citizen in 1990.Born in Nancy, France, Djokic was the son of a Serbian father and French mother...
.