David Mills (bass)
Encyclopedia
David Mills is a Canadian
bass
, poet
, composer
and actor
. Retired now, he had an active international singing career that spanned more than five decades. He has published two books of poetry, Isobelle, a Novel in Verse (Toronto 1989) and The Social Comedy (Ottawa 1990). He wrote a one man show, David Mills - His Poetry and Songs, which premiered in Toronto in 1989 and then toured to numerous Canadian cities in the early 1990s. As a composer he has written a cantata
, Vision of Peace to texts from the Book of Isaiah
, and several art songs to the poetry of Pauline Johnson
and Robert Browning
. As an actor he has appeared on CBC TV and in films for Circle Films and Altlantis Films
among other production companies.
As a singer Mills has been chiefly active as a recital
ist from the 1940s through the 1990s, usually accompanied by his wife, the pianist Marjorie Mutter. He toured numerous times throughout Europe (1960, 1961, 1965, 1970, 1977, 1979, 1983, and 1988) in addition to making numerous appearances in North America, including 8 nationwide tours of Canada. He performed programs of Canadian art songs, and notably premiered works by such Canadian composers as James Gayfer
, Welford Russell
, Boleslaw Szczeniowski
, and León Zuckert
. The latter two composers notably set Mills' own poems to music. In a 1987 review, music critic Pauline Durichen described his voice as "displaying vibrant deep-range control... and at times a soulful sweetness at heights where few basses dare linger".
Mills also occasionally performed in oratorio
s and opera
s. In 1953 he sang in his first professional oratorio performance with the Yorkminster Choir under the baton of his former teacher, D'Alton McLaughlin. In 1954 he performed the bass solos in Ludwig van Beethoven
's rarely heard 1814 cantata
Der glorreiche Augenblick with conductor Emil Gartner and the Toronto Jewish Folk Choir
. On the opera stage he performed with the Canadian National Opera in Toronto in 1953, the Opéra de Marseille
in 1957-1958, and at a summer festival of light opera in Chicago in 1958.
Mills studied voice at the University of Regina
(UR) with Alicia Birkett from 1947–1949, during which time he performed on the Canadian radio stations CKRM and CKCK-FM
and was heavily involved with the music programs at a number of churches. He also wrote the libretto
for The Rebel, an operetta which was performed by students at the UR. He then pursued further studies at The Royal Conservatory of Music where he was a pupil of George Lambert
and McLaughlin.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
bass
Bass (voice type)
A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C...
, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, 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 actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. Retired now, he had an active international singing career that spanned more than five decades. He has published two books of poetry, Isobelle, a Novel in Verse (Toronto 1989) and The Social Comedy (Ottawa 1990). He wrote a one man show, David Mills - His Poetry and Songs, which premiered in Toronto in 1989 and then toured to numerous Canadian cities in the early 1990s. As a composer he has written a cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
, Vision of Peace to texts from the Book of Isaiah
Book of Isaiah
The Book of Isaiah is the first of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, preceding the books of Ezekiel, Jeremiah and the Book of the Twelve...
, and several art songs to the poetry of Pauline Johnson
Pauline Johnson
Emily Pauline Johnson , commonly known as E. Pauline Johnson or just Pauline Johnson, was a Canadian writer and performer popular in the late 19th century...
and Robert Browning
Robert Browning
Robert Browning was an English poet and playwright whose mastery of dramatic verse, especially dramatic monologues, made him one of the foremost Victorian poets.-Early years:...
. As an actor he has appeared on CBC TV and in films for Circle Films and Altlantis Films
Altlantis Films
Altlantis Films was a Canadian film production and distribution company that was active from 1964 through 1998. The company produced over 100 films during its 34 year long history...
among other production companies.
As a singer Mills has been chiefly active as a recital
Recital
A recital is a musical performance. It can highlight a single performer, sometimes accompanied by piano, or a performance of the works of a single composer.The invention of the solo piano recital has been attributed to Franz Liszt....
ist from the 1940s through the 1990s, usually accompanied by his wife, the pianist Marjorie Mutter. He toured numerous times throughout Europe (1960, 1961, 1965, 1970, 1977, 1979, 1983, and 1988) in addition to making numerous appearances in North America, including 8 nationwide tours of Canada. He performed programs of Canadian art songs, and notably premiered works by such Canadian composers as James Gayfer
James Gayfer
James McDonald Gayfer was a Canadian bandmaster, clarinetist, composer, conductor, organist, military officer, and music educator. His compositional output encompasses several orchestral works, including two symphonies, numerous works for band and solo piano, a modest amount of chamber music, and...
, Welford Russell
Welford Russell
Welford Russell was a Canadian composer who is particularly remembered for his output of choral works.Born in Neepawa, Manitoba, Russell made a living as a surgeon and was notably a medical missionary in India from 1925-1941. He pursued musical activities in his spare time...
, Boleslaw Szczeniowski
Boleslaw Szczeniowski
Boleslaw Szczeniowski was a Canadian aeronautical engineer and composer of Polish descent. A graduate of the school of engineering at Lviv Polytechnic, Szczeniowski made a living as an engineer in Montréal...
, and León Zuckert
León Zuckert
León Zuckert was a Canadian composer, conductor, arranger, violinist, violist and radio pioneer of Ukrainian descent. He was married to the poet Ella Bobrow, with whom he collaborated on many songs....
. The latter two composers notably set Mills' own poems to music. In a 1987 review, music critic Pauline Durichen described his voice as "displaying vibrant deep-range control... and at times a soulful sweetness at heights where few basses dare linger".
Mills also occasionally performed in oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
s and opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s. In 1953 he sang in his first professional oratorio performance with the Yorkminster Choir under the baton of his former teacher, D'Alton McLaughlin. In 1954 he performed the bass solos in Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
's rarely heard 1814 cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
Der glorreiche Augenblick with conductor Emil Gartner and the Toronto Jewish Folk Choir
Toronto Jewish Folk Choir
The Toronto Jewish Folk Choir is Canada's oldest Jewish choral group. It consists of approximately 30 singers and is conducted by Alexander Veprinsky. Its repertoire, sung in four-part harmony, encompasses a wide range of secular Jewish music, classical works on Jewish themes and songs of many...
. On the opera stage he performed with the Canadian National Opera in Toronto in 1953, the Opéra de Marseille
Opéra de Marseille
L’Opéra de Marseille, known today as the Opéra Municipal, is an opera company located in Marseille, France. In 1685, the city was the second in France after Bordeaux to have an opera house which was erected on a tennis court....
in 1957-1958, and at a summer festival of light opera in Chicago in 1958.
Mills studied voice at the University of Regina
University of Regina
The University of Regina is a public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1911 as a private denominational high school of the Methodist Church of Canada, it began an association with the University of Saskatchewan as a junior college in 1925, and was disaffiliated...
(UR) with Alicia Birkett from 1947–1949, during which time he performed on the Canadian radio stations CKRM and CKCK-FM
CKCK-FM
CKCK-FM, a Canadian radio station in Regina, Saskatchewan, was one of the world's pioneering radio stations. Its current incarnation is known on air as Jack FM, and broadcasts at 94.5 MHz. It is housed at 2401 Saskatchewan Drive in Regina, with CJME and CIZL-FM.- History :In 1922, the...
and was heavily involved with the music programs at a number of churches. He also wrote the libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
for The Rebel, an operetta which was performed by students at the UR. He then pursued further studies at The Royal Conservatory of Music where he was a pupil of George Lambert
George Lambert (baritone)
George James Lambert was an English baritone and voice teacher who was primarily active in Canada.Lambert was born in Long Preston. Following World War I, he studied singing in his native country with Frederic Lord while concurrently playing soccer professionally. He was highly active as an...
and McLaughlin.