Henri Gagnon
Encyclopedia
Henri Gagnon was a Canadian composer
, organist
, and music educator. He spent 51 years playing the organ at the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
where, according to music historian François Brassard
, he earned "a prestige similar to that of the famous organists of Europe". He was a much admired teacher and taught at several institutions, notably succeeding Wilfrid Pelletier
as the second director of the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec
. As a composer, he produced mainly works for solo organ and piano; although he did write a few choral works and vocal pieces as well. One of his more popular works was Rondel de Thibaut de Champagne which Edward Johnson
and Rodolphe Plamondon often performed in their recitals. Two of his works, Mazurka (1907) and Deux Antiennes, were recorded by the CBC Montreal Orchestra.
, Gagnon was from a prominent family of musicians in Canada. Both his father, Gustave Gagnon
, and his uncle, Ernest Gagnon
, were prominent organists and composers in Quebec City. He began studying solfège
and piano
with his father at the age of eight and he remained his principle teacher until he was thirteen. From 1900-1903 he was a pupil of William Reed
(organ) and Joseph Vézina
(solfège and harmony). He began performing publicly as a child and had his first major success at the Pan-American Exposition
in 1901. The Buffalo Courier-Express
called him "a true prodigy" in their review of his concert.
In 1903 Gagnon moved to Montreal to continue his musical education. He remained there through 1907, studying with such teachers as Guillaume Couture
(harmony and counterpoint), Father Charles-Hugues Lefebvre (church music), Arthur Letondal (piano), Romain-Octave Pelletier I
(organ), and Romain Pelletier
(organ). From 1903-1906 he was chapel organist at Gesù College and then served in the same capacity at Loyola College
in 1906-1907. In 1906 he earned a certificate from the Dominion College of Music.
(organ, plainchant, improvisation, and harmony), Isidor Philipp
(piano), and Charles-Marie Widor
(organ). In 1908 and 1909 he was a soloist in the Concerts Touche, and he also filled in for Gigout occasionally as organist at the Église Saint-Augustin de Paris
. He later returned to Paris in the summers of 1911, 1912, 1914, and 1924 to continue studies with Widor and with Joseph Bonnet
.
. He was promoted to organist at the church in 1915, a position he held until his death in Quebec City in 1961. A much sought after teacher, he taught at both the École normale Laval and at the Petit Séminaire de Québec
from 1917-1933. In 1923 he joined the faculty of Université Laval
where he taught for roughly two deacades. He was also director of the Académie de musique du Québec from 1929–1932 and the second director of the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec
from 1946-1961. His notable students included Jean-Marie Beaudet
, Françoys Bernier
, Maurice Bernier
, Marius Cayouette, Father Léon Destroismaisons, Lucille Dompierre
, Alice Duchesnay, Claude Lagacé, and Léo-Pol Morin
.
made a 30-minute documentary, Henri Gagnon, organiste, profiling his life and career. In 1974 the recording Hommage à Henri Gagnon was made which included works composed by Gagnon and works with which he was known for playing. Organists on the recording included Antoine Bouchard, Sylvain Doyon, Claude Lagacé, and Antoine Reboulot. Reboulot notably plays his own work, Variations sur le nom d'Henri Gagnon, on the recording. In 1987 the publishing company Les Éditions Jacques Ostiguy Inc commemorated his 100th birthday by publishing a collection of seven organ works dedicated to Gagnon by six different composers entitled Le Tombeau de Henri Gagnon.
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...
, 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...
, and music educator. He spent 51 years playing the organ at the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
The Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré is a basilica set along the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada, east of Quebec City. It has been credited by the Roman Catholic Church with many miracles of curing the sick and disabled. It is an important Catholic sanctuary which receives about a...
where, according to music historian François Brassard
François Brassard
François Joseph Brassard was a Canadian ethnomusicologist, organist, composer and music teacher.Brassard studied piano with Rolland-Georges Gingras, organ with Omer Létourneau and harmony with Robert Talbot. As a scholarship student of the Académie de musique du Québec he was a student of Léo-Pol...
, he earned "a prestige similar to that of the famous organists of Europe". He was a much admired teacher and taught at several institutions, notably succeeding Wilfrid Pelletier
Wilfrid Pelletier
Joseph Louis Wilfrid Pelletier , CC was a Canadian conductor, pianist, composer, and arts administrator. He was instrumental in establishing the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, serving as the orchestra's first artistic director and conductor from 1935-1941...
as the second director of the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec
Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec
The Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec is a music conservatory located in Quebec City, Quebec. Founded by the Quebec government in 1944, it became the second North American music institution of higher learning to be entirely state-subsidized...
. As a composer, he produced mainly works for solo organ and piano; although he did write a few choral works and vocal pieces as well. One of his more popular works was Rondel de Thibaut de Champagne which Edward Johnson
Edward Johnson (tenor)
Edward Patrick Johnson CBE was a Canadian operatic tenor who was billed outside North America as Edoardo Di Giovanni, and became director of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.- Early life :...
and Rodolphe Plamondon often performed in their recitals. Two of his works, Mazurka (1907) and Deux Antiennes, were recorded by the CBC Montreal Orchestra.
Early life and education
Born in Quebec CityQuebec 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...
, Gagnon was from a prominent family of musicians in Canada. Both his father, Gustave Gagnon
Gustave Gagnon
Gustave Adolphe Mathurin Gagnon was a Canadian organist, composer, and music educator.-Family background and education:...
, and his uncle, 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...
, were prominent organists and composers in Quebec City. He began studying 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...
and 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...
with his father at the age of eight and he remained his principle teacher until he was thirteen. From 1900-1903 he was a pupil of William Reed
William Reed (musician)
William Reed was a Canadian organist, choir conductor, and composer. He held numerous organ and choirmaster posts in churches throughout Canada from 1884-1913. His career in this area was cut short as his affliction from deafness worsened. He spent the remainder of his career composing and...
(organ) and Joseph Vézina
Joseph Vézina
François-Joseph Vézina was a Quebec conductor, composer, organist and music professor. Vézina is buried in the Cimetière Notre-Dame-de-Belmont in Sainte-Foy.-Early life:...
(solfège and harmony). He began performing publicly as a child and had his first major success at the Pan-American Exposition
Pan-American Exposition
The Pan-American Exposition was a World's Fair held in Buffalo, New York, United States, from May 1 through November 2, 1901. The fair occupied of land on the western edge of what is present day Delaware Park, extending from Delaware Ave. to Elmwood Ave and northward to Great Arrow...
in 1901. The Buffalo Courier-Express
Buffalo Courier-Express
The Buffalo Courier-Express was a morning newspaper in Buffalo, New York. It ceased publication on September 1982.The Courier-Express was created in 1926 by a merger of the Buffalo Daily Courier and the Buffalo Morning Express. William James Conners, owner of the Buffalo Courier, brought the two...
called him "a true prodigy" in their review of his concert.
In 1903 Gagnon moved to Montreal to continue his musical education. He remained there through 1907, studying with such teachers as Guillaume Couture
Guillaume Couture (musician)
Guillaume Couture was a Canadian choir conductor, composer, music critic, and music educator. Although he never pursued a performance career, he is particularly remembered for his work as a voice teacher; having taught many notable Canadian singers...
(harmony and counterpoint), Father Charles-Hugues Lefebvre (church music), Arthur Letondal (piano), Romain-Octave Pelletier I
Romain-Octave Pelletier I
Romain-Octave Pelletier I was a Canadian organist, pianist, composer, writer on music, and music educator.-Early life and career:...
(organ), and Romain Pelletier
Romain Pelletier
Romain Pelletier was a Canadian organist, choir conductor, composer, and music educator. His compositional output consists entirely of works for solo organ and motets...
(organ). From 1903-1906 he was chapel organist at Gesù College and then served in the same capacity at Loyola College
Loyola College (Montreal)
Loyola College was a Jesuit college in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It ceased to exist when it was incorporated into Concordia University in 1974. A portion of the original College remains as a separate entity called Loyola High School....
in 1906-1907. In 1906 he earned a certificate from the Dominion College of Music.
Studies in France
In 1907 Gagnon left Canada for Paris where he spent the next three and half years. In France he studied with Amédée Gastoué (plainchant), Eugène GigoutEugène Gigout
Eugène Gigout was a French organist and a composer of European late-romantic music for organ.-Biography:Gigout was born in Nancy, and died in Paris....
(organ, plainchant, improvisation, and harmony), Isidor Philipp
Isidor Philipp
Isidor Philipp was a French pianist, composer, and distinguished pedagogue of Hungarian descent. He was born in Budapest and died in Paris.-Biography:...
(piano), and Charles-Marie Widor
Charles-Marie Widor
Charles-Marie Jean Albert Widor was a French organist, composer and teacher.-Life:Widor was born in Lyon, to a family of organ builders, and initially studied music there with his father, François-Charles Widor, titular organist of Saint-François-de-Sales from 1838 to 1889...
(organ). In 1908 and 1909 he was a soloist in the Concerts Touche, and he also filled in for Gigout occasionally as organist at the Église Saint-Augustin de Paris
Église Saint-Augustin de Paris
The Église Saint-Augustin de Paris is a church in the VIIIe arrondissement of Paris, France. Here Charles de Foucauld was converted by its priest, Father Huvelin. During the Second Empire, this area was undergoing considerable building work and demographic movement...
. He later returned to Paris in the summers of 1911, 1912, 1914, and 1924 to continue studies with Widor and with Joseph Bonnet
Joseph Bonnet
Joseph Bonnet was a French composer and organist.One of the major French pipe organ players, Joseph Bonnet was born in Bordeaux. He first studied with his father, an organist at St. Eulalie. At the age of 14, he became official organist, first at St. Nicholas and almost immediately at St. Michael...
.
Career in Canada
In 1910 Gagnon returned to his native city to assume the post of assistant organist at the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-BeaupréBasilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
The Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré is a basilica set along the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada, east of Quebec City. It has been credited by the Roman Catholic Church with many miracles of curing the sick and disabled. It is an important Catholic sanctuary which receives about a...
. He was promoted to organist at the church in 1915, a position he held until his death in Quebec City in 1961. A much sought after teacher, he taught at both the École normale Laval and at the Petit Séminaire de Québec
Petit Séminaire de Québec
Le Petit Séminaire de Québec is a private French-language Roman Catholic secondary school in the Vieux-Québec area of Quebec City which was originally part of the Séminaire de Québec...
from 1917-1933. In 1923 he joined the faculty of Université Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
where he taught for roughly two deacades. He was also director of the Académie de musique du Québec from 1929–1932 and the second director of the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec
Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec
The Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec is a music conservatory located in Quebec City, Quebec. Founded by the Quebec government in 1944, it became the second North American music institution of higher learning to be entirely state-subsidized...
from 1946-1961. His notable students included Jean-Marie Beaudet
Jean-Marie Beaudet
Jean-Marie Beaudet was a Canadian conductor, organist, pianist, radio producer, and music educator. He had a long career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, serving variously as a music producer, programing director, conductor, and administrator...
, Françoys Bernier
Françoys Bernier
Françoys Joseph Arthur Maurice Bernier was a Canadian pianist, conductor, radio producer, arts administrator, and music educator. He served as the music director of the Montreal Festivals from 1956–1960 and was an active conductor and radio producer for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation during...
, Maurice Bernier
Maurice Bernier (journalist)
Maurice Bernier was a Canadian journalist, cellist, and music critic. He wrote music criticism for the Quebec City newspaper L'Événement from 1922-1932. He then worked as a reporter stationed at the National Assembly of Quebec for the next four decades. Born in Quebec City, Bernier was a member of...
, Marius Cayouette, Father Léon Destroismaisons, Lucille Dompierre
Lucille Dompierre
Lucille Dompierre was a Canadian pianist and arranger. She made only a few recordings, mainly consisting of works by Frédéric Chopin. She also arranged several Canadian songs and folk tunes for piano and solo voice.-Career:...
, Alice Duchesnay, Claude Lagacé, and Léo-Pol Morin
Léo-Pol Morin
Léo-Pol Morin was a Canadian pianist, music critic, composer, and music educator. He composed under the name James Callihou, with his most well known works being Suite canadienne and Three Eskimos for piano. He also composed works based on Canadian and Inuit folklore/folk music and harmonized a...
.
Legacy
In 1958 the National Film Board of CanadaNational Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
made a 30-minute documentary, Henri Gagnon, organiste, profiling his life and career. In 1974 the recording Hommage à Henri Gagnon was made which included works composed by Gagnon and works with which he was known for playing. Organists on the recording included Antoine Bouchard, Sylvain Doyon, Claude Lagacé, and Antoine Reboulot. Reboulot notably plays his own work, Variations sur le nom d'Henri Gagnon, on the recording. In 1987 the publishing company Les Éditions Jacques Ostiguy Inc commemorated his 100th birthday by publishing a collection of seven organ works dedicated to Gagnon by six different composers entitled Le Tombeau de Henri Gagnon.