Paul Pedersen (composer)
Encyclopedia
Paul Richard Pedersen is a Canadian composer
, arts administrator, and music educator. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre
and a member of the Canadian League of Composers
, he is particularly known for his works of electronic music
; a number of which utilize various forms of multi-media. Early on in his career, he wrote non-electronic compositions which exhibited a free atonal style.
, Pedersen entered the University of Saskatchewan
in 1953 where he earned a Bachelor of Arts
in music in 1957. At the school he was mentored in music composition by Murray Adaskin
. He matriculated to the University of Toronto
(UT) where he studied composition with John Weinzweig
; receiving a Master of Music
in 1961. He later returned to the UT to pursue doctoral studies in musicology
which focused on research in acoustic and musical psychology. Part of his research was published in the Winter 1965 edition of the Journal of Music Theory
in an article entitled The mel scale. He earned a PhD
from the UT in 1970 after completing his doctoral dissertation, The perception of musical pitch structure.
In 1961 Pedersen joined the music staff at He taught at Parkdale Collegiate Institute
in Toronto. He left there in 1962 when he was appointed music director of Augustana University College
, a post he held through 1964. In 1966 he was appointed to the music faculty at McGill University
(MU) where he remained for the next 24 years. He served as the chairman of MU's theory department from 1970–1974 and was head of the school's electronic music studio from 1971-1974. He served as associate dean of the music school from 1974–1976 and then was dean of the school from 1976-1986. He was also director and executive producer of McGill University Records from 1976-1990. In 1990 Pedersen left McGill to become the dean of the music school at the University of Toronto.
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...
, arts administrator, and music educator. An associate 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....
and a member of the Canadian League of Composers
Canadian League of Composers
The Canadian League of Composers is an organization formed in 1951 of Canadian composers primarily interested in raising awareness and acceptance of Canadian music. The activities of the League are overseen and directed by an executive and a National Council...
, he is particularly known for his works of electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
; a number of which utilize various forms of multi-media. Early on in his career, he wrote non-electronic compositions which exhibited a free atonal style.
Life
Born in Camrose, AlbertaCamrose, Alberta
Camrose is a city in central Alberta, Canada, amid some of the richest farmland in the prairies. It is a relatively small city which originally grew up along a railroad and now grows along Highway 13. Camrose is a scenic community with many parks, leading to its moniker "The Rose City"...
, Pedersen entered the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
in 1953 where he earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in music in 1957. At the school he was mentored in music composition by Murray Adaskin
Murray Adaskin
-External links:*...
. He matriculated to the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
(UT) where he studied composition with John Weinzweig
John Weinzweig
John Weinzweig, OC, O.Ont was a Canadian composer of classical music.Born in Toronto, Weinzweig went to Harbord Collegiate Institute, and studied music at the university. In 1937, he left for the United States to study under Bernard Rogers...
; receiving a Master of Music
Master of Music
The Master of Music is the first graduate degree in Music awarded by universities and music conservatories. The M.Mus. combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization with graduate-level academic study in subjects such as music history, music theory, or music pedagogy...
in 1961. He later returned to the UT to pursue doctoral studies in musicology
Musicology
Musicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
which focused on research in acoustic and musical psychology. Part of his research was published in the Winter 1965 edition of the Journal of Music Theory
Journal of Music Theory
The Journal of Music Theory is a peer-reviewed academic journal specializing in music theory and analysis. It was established by David Kraehenbuehl in 1957....
in an article entitled The mel scale. He earned a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the UT in 1970 after completing his doctoral dissertation, The perception of musical pitch structure.
In 1961 Pedersen joined the music staff at He taught at Parkdale Collegiate Institute
Parkdale Collegiate Institute
Parkdale Collegiate Institute is a public high school located on Jameson Avenue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1888 in the community of Parkdale.-History:Parkdale High School opened in the Masonic Hall on Dowling Avenue in 1888...
in Toronto. He left there in 1962 when he was appointed music director of Augustana University College
Augustana University College
Augustana University College was a Lutheran college in Camrose, Alberta, Canada, from 1910 until its 2004 merger with the University of Alberta. Now known as the Augustana Faculty of the University of Alberta, it began its operations in 1910 under the name Camrose Lutheran College...
, a post he held through 1964. In 1966 he was appointed to 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...
(MU) where he remained for the next 24 years. He served as the chairman of MU's theory department from 1970–1974 and was head of the school's electronic music studio from 1971-1974. He served as associate dean of the music school from 1974–1976 and then was dean of the school from 1976-1986. He was also director and executive producer of McGill University Records from 1976-1990. In 1990 Pedersen left McGill to become the dean of the music school at the University of Toronto.