Barbara Pentland
Encyclopedia
Barbara Pentland was one of the pre-eminent members of the generation of Canadian composers who came to artistic maturity in the years following World War Two.
, Pentland suffered from a heart disorder which significantly limited both her physical and social activities during her childhood. As a result, she devoted much of her time from an early age to academic pursuits and other intellectual activities. At the age of 9 she began studying the piano
in her native city at the Rupert's Land Girls' School. She soon developed an interest in music composition, but her early ventures into this area were strongly discouraged by both her teacher and her relatively wealthy and conservative family who viewed the pursuit as an eccentric hobby that was "too exciting for a delicate child".
Despite her family's objections, Pentland continued to compose privately as a young teenager. She finally was encouraged in this pursuit by one of her teachers, the organist and conductor Frederick H. Blair, who taught her piano and music theory while she attended boarding school in Montreal
from 1927-1929. She then studied composition with family approval in Paris in 1929 with Cécile Gauthiez while attending a finishing school in that city. She then returned to her native city where she studied under Hugh Bancroft (organ) and Eva Clare (piano) from 1930–1936 and embarked on a career as a concert pianist.
In 1936 Pentland entered the graduate music program at the Juilliard School
in New York City
where she studied 16th-century counterpoint with Frederick Jacobi
and modern composition techniques with Bernard Wagenaar
through 1939. During these years, her own compositions took on a language that was primarily neoclassical, showing the influence of Paul Hindemith
, Igor Stravinsky
, and later Aaron Copland
; the latter of whom she studied with at the Tanglewood Music Center
during the summers of 1941 and 1942.
Pentland's compositional language began to shift away from neoclassicism in 1955 when she encountered the work of Anton Webern
for the first time while visiting Darmstadt
. Although she was never to become a strict serial
composer, in Webern's manner, she did adapt elements of his style and technique into her new "free atonal" musical language. It is the work of this period which is regarded as her finest, being described by musicologist David Gordon Duke as music that "drew on the textures and organizational principles of the Webern school but was suffused with a lyricism that was expressly individual".
Although Pentland's position at the forefront of the Canadian musical avant-garde
was recognized during her lifetime, her career was also marked by substantial struggle. As a woman composer of 'difficult' music, she met with resistance from male performers, and was often treated dismissively by fellow composers. Her academic career was relatively brief; she left her post at the University of British Columbia
because of conflict with the department chair on the issue of academic standards. Following the end of her career (forced by ill health more than a decade before her death), Pentland fell into relative obscurity, being overshadowed in discussions of Canadian music by her male contemporaries. Though her works are performed relatively infrequently, a number of her pieces have been recorded by such performers as Angela Hewitt
(Studies in Line, Glenn Gould
(Ombres/Shadows), and Robert Rogers
(numerous works).
Pentland was a founding member of the Canadian Music Centre
, which provides public access to a large number of her scores and recordings. The National Library of Canada also hold a significant Pentland collection.
Life and career
Born in WinnipegWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Pentland suffered from a heart disorder which significantly limited both her physical and social activities during her childhood. As a result, she devoted much of her time from an early age to academic pursuits and other intellectual activities. At the age of 9 she began studying the 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...
in her native city at the Rupert's Land Girls' School. She soon developed an interest in music composition, but her early ventures into this area were strongly discouraged by both her teacher and her relatively wealthy and conservative family who viewed the pursuit as an eccentric hobby that was "too exciting for a delicate child".
Despite her family's objections, Pentland continued to compose privately as a young teenager. She finally was encouraged in this pursuit by one of her teachers, the organist and conductor Frederick H. Blair, who taught her piano and music theory while she attended boarding school in 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...
from 1927-1929. She then studied composition with family approval in Paris in 1929 with Cécile Gauthiez while attending a finishing school in that city. She then returned to her native city where she studied under Hugh Bancroft (organ) and Eva Clare (piano) from 1930–1936 and embarked on a career as a concert pianist.
In 1936 Pentland entered the graduate music program at the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where she studied 16th-century counterpoint with Frederick Jacobi
Frederick Jacobi
Frederick Jacobi was a prolific American composer and teacher.His works include symphonies, concerti, chamber music, works for solo piano and for solo organ, lieder, and one opera....
and modern composition techniques with Bernard Wagenaar
Bernard Wagenaar
Bernard Wagenaar was a Dutch/American composer, conductor and violinist.Wagenaar, not related to the Dutch composer Johan Wagenaar, was born in Arnhem. He studied at Utrecht University before starting his career as a teacher and conductor in 1914. He moved to the USA in 1920, where he became a...
through 1939. During these years, her own compositions took on a language that was primarily neoclassical, showing the influence of Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith was a German composer, violist, violinist, teacher, music theorist and conductor.- Biography :Born in Hanau, near Frankfurt, Hindemith was taught the violin as a child...
, Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
, and later Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor of his own and other American music. He was instrumental in forging a distinctly American style of composition, and is often referred to as "the Dean of American Composers"...
; the latter of whom she studied with at the Tanglewood Music Center
Tanglewood Music Center
The Tanglewood Music Center is an annual summer music academy in Lenox, Massachusetts, United States, in which emerging professional musicians participate in performances, master classes and workshops designed to provide an intense training and networking experience...
during the summers of 1941 and 1942.
Pentland's compositional language began to shift away from neoclassicism in 1955 when she encountered the work of Anton Webern
Anton Webern
Anton Webern was an Austrian composer and conductor. He was a member of the Second Viennese School. As a student and significant follower of Arnold Schoenberg, he became one of the best-known exponents of the twelve-tone technique; in addition, his innovations regarding schematic organization of...
for the first time while visiting Darmstadt
Darmstadt
Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Rhine Main Area.The sandy soils in the Darmstadt area, ill-suited for agriculture in times before industrial fertilisation, prevented any larger settlement from developing, until the city became the seat...
. Although she was never to become a strict serial
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...
composer, in Webern's manner, she did adapt elements of his style and technique into her new "free atonal" musical language. It is the work of this period which is regarded as her finest, being described by musicologist David Gordon Duke as music that "drew on the textures and organizational principles of the Webern school but was suffused with a lyricism that was expressly individual".
Although Pentland's position at the forefront of the Canadian musical avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
was recognized during her lifetime, her career was also marked by substantial struggle. As a woman composer of 'difficult' music, she met with resistance from male performers, and was often treated dismissively by fellow composers. Her academic career was relatively brief; she left her post at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
because of conflict with the department chair on the issue of academic standards. Following the end of her career (forced by ill health more than a decade before her death), Pentland fell into relative obscurity, being overshadowed in discussions of Canadian music by her male contemporaries. Though her works are performed relatively infrequently, a number of her pieces have been recorded by such performers as Angela Hewitt
Angela Hewitt
Angela Hewitt, OC, OBE is a Canadian classical pianist. She holds British nationality through her father, Godfrey, who was the organist and choirmaster at Christ Church Cathedral in Ottawa, Ontario for almost fifty years.-Career:...
(Studies in Line, Glenn Gould
Glenn Gould
Glenn Herbert Gould was a Canadian pianist who became one of the best-known and most celebrated classical pianists of the 20th century. He was particularly renowned as an interpreter of the keyboard music of Johann Sebastian Bach...
(Ombres/Shadows), and Robert Rogers
Robert Rogers
Robert Rogers may refer to:*Robert Rogers , 18th century American colonial officer, explorer and playwright*Robert Rogers , Canadian politician...
(numerous works).
Pentland was a founding member of the Canadian Music Centre
Canadian Music Centre
The Canadian Music Centre holds Canada's largest collection of Canadian concert music. The CMC exists to promote the works of its Associate Composers in Canada and around the world....
, which provides public access to a large number of her scores and recordings. The National Library of Canada also hold a significant Pentland collection.
Selected works
- Symphony No. 2 (1950)
- Symphony for 10 parts (1957)
- Duo for Viola and Piano (1960)
- Variations for Viola Solo (1965)
- Quintet for Piano & Strings (1983)
See also
- Music of CanadaMusic of CanadaThe music of Canada has influences that have shaped the country. Aboriginals, the British, and the French have all made unique contributions to the musical heritage of Canada. The music has subsequently been heavily influenced by American culture because of its proximity and migration between...
- List of Canadian composers