Charles Wugk Sabatier
Encyclopedia
Charles-Désiré-Joseph Wugk Sabatier (1 December 1819 - 22 August 1862) was a Canadian pianist
, organist
, composer
, and music educator of French birth.
, Sabatier was the son of an immigrant from Saxony
. He enrolled at the Conservatoire de Paris
under his birth name in 1838, studying there through 1840. He adopted the last name of Sabatier some time during his early career. An article in the Toronto Globe published on 25 September 1856 claimed that Sabatier was pianist to the Duchess of Montpensier and that he had conducted opera in Brussels. The former account is most likely accurate but music historians largely reject the latter claim.
and then lived in Quebec City
from 1854-1856. During these years he worked as a music teacher, church organist, and concert pianist for both public and private performances. He notably played concerts of his own work as a guest artist at St Lawrence Hall in Toronto in 1856. He lived in a variety of cities over the next several years, first in St-Jean-Chrysostome-de-Lévis and then in St-Gervais and Chambly. In the latter city he was employed at a convent as an instructor in music.
Sabatier ultimately settled in Montreal where he remained for the rest of his life. In that city he was active as a private music teacher and counted pianist Dominique Ducharme
, organist Ernest Gagnon
, and composer Calixa Lavallée
among his students. He founded the short lived journal L'Artiste with Paul Stevens and Édouard Sempé in May 1860. On 24 August 1860 his Cantata (with words by Sempé) was premiered under his direction on the occasion of the visit of the Prince of Wales
. For the performance he conducted the 250 voice Montreal Musical Union Choir and a full orchestra. The soloists for the cantata included Adelina Patti
and Emma Albani
. He died in Montreal in 1862 at the age of 42.
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:...
, organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, 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 of French birth.
Early life and career in Europe
Born Charles Wugk in TourcoingTourcoing
Tourcoing is a city in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Nord.Tourcoing is situated near the cities of Lille and Roubaix and the Belgian border.-Main sights:...
, Sabatier was the son of an immigrant from Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
. He enrolled at the Conservatoire de Paris
Conservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
under his birth name in 1838, studying there through 1840. He adopted the last name of Sabatier some time during his early career. An article in the Toronto Globe published on 25 September 1856 claimed that Sabatier was pianist to the Duchess of Montpensier and that he had conducted opera in Brussels. The former account is most likely accurate but music historians largely reject the latter claim.
Life and career in Canada
Sabatier most likely arrived in Canada in 1848, although an exact year is not definitely substantiated. He first resided in the city of MontrealMontreal
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...
and then lived in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
from 1854-1856. During these years he worked as a music teacher, church organist, and concert pianist for both public and private performances. He notably played concerts of his own work as a guest artist at St Lawrence Hall in Toronto in 1856. He lived in a variety of cities over the next several years, first in St-Jean-Chrysostome-de-Lévis and then in St-Gervais and Chambly. In the latter city he was employed at a convent as an instructor in music.
Sabatier ultimately settled in Montreal where he remained for the rest of his life. In that city he was active as a private music teacher and counted pianist Dominique Ducharme
Dominique Ducharme (musician)
Dominique Ducharme was a Canadian pianist, organist, and music educator. He studied with Paul Letondal and Charles Wugk Sabatier in Canada before studying for 5 years at the Conservatoire de Paris in France with Antoine Marmontel and François Bazin...
, organist Ernest Gagnon
Ernest Gagnon
Ernest Gagnon was a Canadian folklorist, composer, and organist. He is best known for compiling a large amount of French Canadian folk music which he published as Chansons populaires du Canada in 1865-1867...
, and composer 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...
among his students. He founded the short lived journal L'Artiste with Paul Stevens and Édouard Sempé in May 1860. On 24 August 1860 his Cantata (with words by Sempé) was premiered under his direction on the occasion of the visit of the Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
. For the performance he conducted the 250 voice Montreal Musical Union Choir and a full orchestra. The soloists for the cantata included Adelina Patti
Adelina Patti
Adelina Patti was a highly acclaimed 19th-century opera singer, earning huge fees at the height of her career in the music capitals of Europe and America. She first sang in public as a child in 1851 and gave her last performance before an audience in 1914...
and Emma Albani
Emma Albani
Dame Emma Albani DBE was a leading soprano of the 19th century and early 20th century, and the first Canadian singer to become an international star. Her repertoire focused on the operas of Mozart, Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini and Wagner...
. He died in Montreal in 1862 at the age of 42.