Robert Talbot (conductor)
Encyclopedia
Robert Jean Talbot was a Canadian conductor
, violin
ist, violist
, composer
, and music educator. For more than 25 years he was the conductor of the Société symphonique de Québec
(now the Quebec Symphony Orchestra). A member of the Société française de musicologie, the International Musicological Society, the Musical Association of London, and the Diocesan Commission for Sacred Music, he was the author of several books on music theory
. He also contributed music articles to a variety of periodicals. His compositional output includes one symphony
, a string quartet
, several songs, many pieces for solo organ, the oratorio
Évangéline, the opera
Celle qui voit, and several other orchestral works. Many of his manuscripts, writings, and personal papers are part of the collection at library of the Université Laval
.
, Talbot initially intended to become a lawyer and earned a law degree from the Université Laval
in 1915. He then entered the Académie de musique du Québec where he was a pupil of J.-Alexandre Gilbert, Berthe Roy, and Joseph Vézina
. From the academy hHe earned a diplôme supérieur (1917), a lauréat diploma (1918), and a teaching certificate (1919). From 1919-1922 he studied in New York City at the Institute of Musical Art
(now the Juilliard School) where he was a pupil of Franz Kneisel
, Albert Stoessel
, and Louis Svečenski
. He later earned a Doctor of Music
from Laval in 1933.
In summer of 1922 Talbot left New York City and embarked upon a violin recital tour throughout the Western provinces of Canada. He had returned home the year previously to perform with his short lived string quartet, the Schubert String Quartet. In 1924 he founded the Talbot String Quartet. He joined the faculty of the Université Laval the following autumn as a professor of harmony
and violin. He con-currently served as the School of Music's secretary from 1922–1935 and director from 1932 until his death in Quebec City in 1954. Among his notable students were Maurice Blackburn
, François Brassard
, Gilbert Darisse, and Marthe Lapointe.
From 1924-1942 Talbot served as the director of the Société symphonique de Québec
(SSQ). Under his leadership the orchestra significantly expanded its repertoire. For the SSQ's 25th anniversary concert in May 1928 he led the ensemble in its first complete presentation of Ludwig van Beethoven
's Symphony No. 5
. He also added Johannes Brahms
's Symphony No. 3
, Antonín Dvořák
's New World Symphony, Gabriel Fauré
's Masques et bergamasques, César Franck
's Symphony in D minor
, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
's The Nutcracker
, and Richard Wagner
's Prelude from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
among many other major works. In 1931 he conducted the orchestra's radio debut.
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, violist
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
, 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. For more than 25 years he was the conductor of the Société symphonique de Québec
Orchestre Symphonique de Québec
Orchestre symphonique de Québec is a Canadian symphony orchestra based in Quebec City. Founded in 1902 as the Société symphonique de Québec, the OSQ is the oldest active Canadian orchestra. Joseph Vézina was the OSQ's first music director, from 1902 to 1924...
(now the Quebec Symphony Orchestra). A member of the Société française de musicologie, the International Musicological Society, the Musical Association of London, and the Diocesan Commission for Sacred Music, he was the author of several books on music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
. He also contributed music articles to a variety of periodicals. His compositional output includes one symphony
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
, a string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
, several songs, many pieces for solo organ, the 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...
Évangéline, the 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...
Celle qui voit, and several other orchestral works. Many of his manuscripts, writings, and personal papers are part of the collection at library of the 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...
.
Life and career
Born in Montmagny, QuebecMontmagny, Quebec
-External links:*...
, Talbot initially intended to become a lawyer and earned a law degree from the 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...
in 1915. He then entered the Académie de musique du Québec where he was a pupil of J.-Alexandre Gilbert, Berthe Roy, 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:...
. From the academy hHe earned a diplôme supérieur (1917), a lauréat diploma (1918), and a teaching certificate (1919). From 1919-1922 he studied in New York City at the Institute of Musical Art
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...
(now the Juilliard School) where he was a pupil of Franz Kneisel
Franz Kneisel
Franz Kneisel was an American violinist and teacher of Romanian birth.Born in Bucharest, the son of a German bandmaster, he learned to play the flute, clarinet and trumpet, as well as the violin...
, Albert Stoessel
Albert Stoessel
Albert Frederic Stoessel was an American composer, violinist and conductor.He was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1894. He studied music at the Berlin Hochschule as a pupil of Emanuel Wirth and Willy Hess...
, and Louis Svečenski
Louis Svečenski
Louis Svečenski was an American violist, violinist, and music educator of Croatian birth.Born in Osijek, Svečenski studied the viola at the Vienna Conservatory before moving to Boston, Massachusetts in 1885...
. He later earned a Doctor of Music
Doctor of Music
The Doctor of Music degree , like other doctorates, is an academic degree of the highest level. The D.Mus. is intended for musicians and composers who wish to combine the highest attainments in their area of specialization with doctoral-level academic study in music...
from Laval in 1933.
In summer of 1922 Talbot left New York City and embarked upon a violin recital tour throughout the Western provinces of Canada. He had returned home the year previously to perform with his short lived string quartet, the Schubert String Quartet. In 1924 he founded the Talbot String Quartet. He joined the faculty of the Université Laval the following autumn as a professor of harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
and violin. He con-currently served as the School of Music's secretary from 1922–1935 and director from 1932 until his death in Quebec City in 1954. Among his notable students were Maurice Blackburn
Maurice Blackburn (composer)
Joseph Albert Maurice Blackburn was a Canadian composer, conductor, sound editor for film, builder of string instruments, and musical adviser. A graduate of the Université Laval and the New England Conservatory, he won the George Allan Prize in 1940. From 1942-1978 he worked as a film composer...
, 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...
, Gilbert Darisse, and Marthe Lapointe.
From 1924-1942 Talbot served as the director of the Société symphonique de Québec
Orchestre Symphonique de Québec
Orchestre symphonique de Québec is a Canadian symphony orchestra based in Quebec City. Founded in 1902 as the Société symphonique de Québec, the OSQ is the oldest active Canadian orchestra. Joseph Vézina was the OSQ's first music director, from 1902 to 1924...
(SSQ). Under his leadership the orchestra significantly expanded its repertoire. For the SSQ's 25th anniversary concert in May 1928 he led the ensemble in its first complete presentation of 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 Symphony No. 5
Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)
The Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, was written by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1804–08. This symphony is one of the most popular and best-known compositions in all of classical music, and one of the most often played symphonies. It comprises four movements: an opening sonata, an andante, and a fast...
. He also added Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
's Symphony No. 3
Symphony No. 3 (Brahms)
The Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90, is a symphony written by Johannes Brahms. The work was written in the summer of 1883 at Wiesbaden, nearly six years after he completed his Second Symphony...
, Antonín Dvořák
Antonín Dvorák
Antonín Leopold Dvořák was a Czech composer of late Romantic music, who employed the idioms of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Dvořák’s own style is sometimes called "romantic-classicist synthesis". His works include symphonic, choral and chamber music, concerti, operas and many...
's New World Symphony, Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Urbain Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th century composers...
's Masques et bergamasques, César Franck
César Franck
César-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck was a composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher who worked in Paris during his adult life....
's Symphony in D minor
Symphony in D minor (Franck)
The Symphony in D minor is the most famous orchestral work and the only symphony written by the 19th-century Belgian composer César Franck. After two years of work, the symphony was completed 22 August 1888. It was premiered at the Paris Conservatory on 17 February 1889 under the direction of ...
, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
's The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St...
, and Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
's Prelude from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg is an opera in three acts, written and composed by Richard Wagner. It is among the longest operas still commonly performed today, usually taking around four and a half hours. It was first performed at the Königliches Hof- und National-Theater in Munich, on June 21,...
among many other major works. In 1931 he conducted the orchestra's radio debut.