Samuel Dolin
Encyclopedia
Samuel Joseph Dolin was a Canadian composer
, music educator, and arts administrator. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre
and a founding member of the Canadian League of Composers
(CLC), he served as the CLC's vice president in 1967-1968 and president from 1969-1973. He was also vice-president of the International Society for Contemporary Music
(ISCM) from 1972–1975 and chairman of the ISCM's Canadian Chapter from 1970-1974. From 1945-2001 he taught music composition, music theory
, and piano
at The Royal Conservatory of Music where he trained dozens of notable Canadian composers.
, Dolin received his early musical training in his native city where he studied piano and music theory with Tania and Vladmir Elgart, Vladimir Emenitov, and Stanley Gardner
. He entered the University of Toronto
in the late 1930s where he earned a Bachelor of Music
in 1942. From 1942-1945 he taught music at Trinity College School
and was also music supervisor for the public schools in Durham and Northumberland counties in Ontario.
In 1945 Dolin began graduate studies in music composition under John Weinzweig
at the Toronto Conservatory of Music (now The Royal Conservatory of Music). At the same time he joined the conservatory's faculty. He eventually returned to the University of Toronto where he earned a Doctor of Music
in composition in 1958. His other teachers included Weldon Kilburn, Reginald Godden, E. Robert Schmitz
, and Ernst Krenek
.
l music, chamber music
, choral music
, works for solo piano, vocal art songs, and a number of dramatic works. His music encompasses a variety of styles, from traditional romanticism
to chromaticism
and other modern compositional techniques. An example of one of his more traditional works is his Serenade for Strings which was premiered by the CBC Symphony Orchestra
at the 1952 Winter Olympics
in Oslo, Norway. One of his more experimental works is Drakkar (1972), a stage work about the first Viking sightings of the New World. The work uses a chamber ensemble with electronic music
, 3 vocal soloists, a multimedia slideshow, dancers, and a narrator.
The majority of Dolin's larger scale works date from his early to mid career. Half of his orchestral works were written during the 1950s, including the first two of his three symphonies
. His only opera
Casino 'Greed premiered in 1967. He wrote the film score
for the 1970 movie Machina. He also contributed music to Canadian radio and television during the 1970s.
From the 1980s on, Dolin wrote mostly smaller scale works such as his well known Two Vocalises for Two Celli (1990). Two notable exceptions are his last symphonic works, Concerto for Oboe and Violoncello with Orchestra (1989) and Double Concerto for Oboe, Cello and Orchestra. The latter work was premiered on 31 March 1988 in a concert honoring the composer's 70th birthday at the Jane Mallett Theatre, St Lawrence Centre which was broadcast on the CBC Radio
program Two New Hours. The soloists for the performance included Dolin's daughter, cellist Elizabeth Dolin, and oboist Patricia Morehead.
studio after touring similar facilities in the United States and Europe. He also completely revamped the associate degree programs for composition and music theory at the RCMT. In May 1984 he established the Canadian Contemporary Music Workshop (CCMW) at the RCMT. The annual workshop consisted of lectures, readings, and concert performances of new orchestral and chamber music. Historically most of the works presented have been by Canadians but the workshop is open to anyone. Doling served as the artistic director of the workshop until his retirement from the RCMT in 2001. The school currently awards the "Dr. Samuel J. Dolin Scholarship in Composition" annually.
Dolin's teaching career at the RCMT produced an impressive roster of composers. The success of his students is attributed to not only his pedagogical methods but also to his advocacy of their work. Dolin often performed his students compositions in faculty recitals or arranged public concerts exihibiting their work at the conservatory. Interestingly, the compositional style of his pupils is highly varied, which demonstrates Dolin's remarkable ability to adapt his teaching to the interests of each individual student. Some of his notable pupils are: Milton Barnes
, Stuart Broomer
, Brian Cherney
, Steven Gellman
, Herbie Helbig
, Jim Hiscott
, Paul Hoffert
, Scott Irvine
, Lorraine Johnson, Moe Koffman
, Gary Kulesha
, Larysa Kuzmenko
, Joseph Lerner
, Michel Longtin
, Gene Martynec
, John Mills-Cockell
, Allan Rae
, Eric Robertson
, Clark Ross
, Ann Southam
, Ben Steinberg
, Timothy Sullivan
, Roman Toi
, Ben Trowell, Ruth Watson Henderson
, John Welsman
, Wes Wraggett, and Jack Zaza.
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...
, music educator, and arts administrator. 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 founding 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...
(CLC), he served as the CLC's vice president in 1967-1968 and president from 1969-1973. He was also vice-president of the International Society for Contemporary Music
International Society for Contemporary Music
The International Society for Contemporary Music is a music organization that promotes contemporary classical music.ISCM was established in 1922, in Salzburg. Its core activity is the World Music Days Festival, held every year at a different location. The festival includes cutting edge productions...
(ISCM) from 1972–1975 and chairman of the ISCM's Canadian Chapter from 1970-1974. From 1945-2001 he taught music composition, 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...
, 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...
at The Royal Conservatory of Music where he trained dozens of notable Canadian composers.
Early career and education
Born in 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...
, Dolin received his early musical training in his native city where he studied piano and music theory with Tania and Vladmir Elgart, Vladimir Emenitov, and Stanley Gardner
Stanley Gardner
Stanley Gardner was a Canadian pianist and music educator. As a performer he was best known as one half of a piano duo with Rose Goldblatt with whom he performed in concerts throughout Canada and on Canadian radio from 1936-1945...
. He entered 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...
in the late 1930s where he earned a Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
in 1942. From 1942-1945 he taught music at Trinity College School
Trinity College School
Trinity College School is a coeducational, independent boarding/day school located in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada. TCS was founded on May 1, 1865, more than 2 years prior to Canadian Confederation. It includes a Senior School for grades 9 to 12 and a Junior School for grades 5 to 8.Among its...
and was also music supervisor for the public schools in Durham and Northumberland counties in Ontario.
In 1945 Dolin began graduate studies in music composition under 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...
at the Toronto Conservatory of Music (now The Royal Conservatory of Music). At the same time he joined the conservatory's faculty. He eventually returned to the University of Toronto where he 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...
in composition in 1958. His other teachers included Weldon Kilburn, Reginald Godden, E. Robert Schmitz
E. Robert Schmitz
Elie Robert Schmitz was a Franco-American pianist and composer.Schmitz studied with Louis-Joseph Diémer at the Conservatoire de Paris where he won First Prize in Piano...
, and Ernst Krenek
Ernst Krenek
Ernst Krenek was an Austrian of Czech origin and, from 1945, American composer. He explored atonality and other modern styles and wrote a number of books, including Music Here and Now , a study of Johannes Ockeghem , and Horizons Circled: Reflections on my Music...
.
Work as a composer
Dolin's compositional output includes orchestraOrchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
l music, chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
, choral music
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
, works for solo piano, vocal art songs, and a number of dramatic works. His music encompasses a variety of styles, from traditional romanticism
Romantic music
Romantic music or music in the Romantic Period is a musicological and artistic term referring to a particular period, theory, compositional practice, and canon in Western music history, from 1810 to 1900....
to chromaticism
Chromaticism
Chromaticism is a compositional technique interspersing the primary diatonic pitches and chords with other pitches of the chromatic scale. Chromaticism is in contrast or addition to tonality or diatonicism...
and other modern compositional techniques. An example of one of his more traditional works is his Serenade for Strings which was premiered by the CBC Symphony Orchestra
CBC Symphony Orchestra
The CBC Symphony Orchestra was a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario that was operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation during the 1950s and 1960s. Founded in 1952, conductor Geoffrey Waddington served as the orchestra'a only music director; although other conductors, such as...
at the 1952 Winter Olympics
1952 Winter Olympics
The 1952 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VI Olympic Winter Games, took place in Oslo, Norway, from 14 to 25 February 1952. Discussions about Oslo hosting the Winter Olympic Games began as early as 1935; the city wanted to host the 1948 Games, but World War II made that impossible...
in Oslo, Norway. One of his more experimental works is Drakkar (1972), a stage work about the first Viking sightings of the New World. The work uses a chamber ensemble with 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...
, 3 vocal soloists, a multimedia slideshow, dancers, and a narrator.
The majority of Dolin's larger scale works date from his early to mid career. Half of his orchestral works were written during the 1950s, including the first two of his three symphonies
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...
. His only 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...
Casino 'Greed premiered in 1967. He wrote the film score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
for the 1970 movie Machina. He also contributed music to Canadian radio and television during the 1970s.
From the 1980s on, Dolin wrote mostly smaller scale works such as his well known Two Vocalises for Two Celli (1990). Two notable exceptions are his last symphonic works, Concerto for Oboe and Violoncello with Orchestra (1989) and Double Concerto for Oboe, Cello and Orchestra. The latter work was premiered on 31 March 1988 in a concert honoring the composer's 70th birthday at the Jane Mallett Theatre, St Lawrence Centre which was broadcast on the CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
program Two New Hours. The soloists for the performance included Dolin's daughter, cellist Elizabeth Dolin, and oboist Patricia Morehead.
Work as an educator
Dolin taught music composition, music theory, and piano at The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCMT) for 56 years. In 1966 he founded the RCMT's electronic musicElectronic 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...
studio after touring similar facilities in the United States and Europe. He also completely revamped the associate degree programs for composition and music theory at the RCMT. In May 1984 he established the Canadian Contemporary Music Workshop (CCMW) at the RCMT. The annual workshop consisted of lectures, readings, and concert performances of new orchestral and chamber music. Historically most of the works presented have been by Canadians but the workshop is open to anyone. Doling served as the artistic director of the workshop until his retirement from the RCMT in 2001. The school currently awards the "Dr. Samuel J. Dolin Scholarship in Composition" annually.
Dolin's teaching career at the RCMT produced an impressive roster of composers. The success of his students is attributed to not only his pedagogical methods but also to his advocacy of their work. Dolin often performed his students compositions in faculty recitals or arranged public concerts exihibiting their work at the conservatory. Interestingly, the compositional style of his pupils is highly varied, which demonstrates Dolin's remarkable ability to adapt his teaching to the interests of each individual student. Some of his notable pupils are: Milton Barnes
Milton Barnes (composer)
Milton Barnes was a Canadian composer, conductor, and jazz drummer. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre, his music is noted for its frequent use of Jewish themes, its rejection of the avant garde in favor of tonality, and its blend of classical, jazz, and pop elements. His music has been...
, Stuart Broomer
Stuart Broomer
Stuart Broomer is a Canadian editor, music critic, pianist, writer, jazz historian, and composer. He is a former editor with CODA magazine and currently works as an editor at Coach House Books...
, Brian Cherney
Brian Cherney
Brian Cherney is a Canadian composer currently residing in Montreal, Quebec. He studied at the University of Toronto where he was a pupil of John Weinzweig, Samuel Dolin, and John Beckwith. In 1972 he joined Schulich School of Music of McGill University, where he has taught analysis and...
, Steven Gellman
Steven Gellman
Steven Gellman is a Canadian composer and pianist. He has been commissioned to write works for the Besançon International Music Festival, the CBC Symphony Orchestra, the Hamilton Philharmonic, McGill University, Musica Camerata, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra,...
, Herbie Helbig
Herbie Helbig
Herbie Helbig is a Canadian pianist, harpsichordist, and composer of German birth. He studied music composition and piano at The Royal Conservatory of Music with Samuel Dolin and privately in Toronto with Gordon Delamont. He is best known for his work as a concert pianist and film and television...
, Jim Hiscott
Jim Hiscott
James Michael Hiscott is a Canadian composer, radio producer, and accordionist. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre and a member of the Canadian League of Composers, his compositions are characterized by their strong rhythmic base, standard harmonic language, and merger of world music with...
, Paul Hoffert
Paul Hoffert
Paul Matthew Hoffert, CM is a recording artist, performer, media music composer, author, academic, and corporate executive. He studied mathematics and physics at the University of Toronto. He later studied music composition with Samuel Dolin and music theory with Gordon Delamont...
, Scott Irvine
Scott Irvine
Scott Irvine is a Canadian composer, arranger, and tuba player based in Toronto. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre and a member of the Canadian League of Composers, he has been commissioned to compose works by numerous organizations, including the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the...
, Lorraine Johnson, Moe Koffman
Moe Koffman
Moe Koffman, OC was a Canadian jazz musician and composer. He played the flute, soprano, alto and tenor saxophone and clarinet...
, Gary Kulesha
Gary Kulesha
Gary Kulesha is a Canadian composer, pianist, conductor, and educator. Since 1995, he has been Composer Advisor to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He has been Composer-in-Residence with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and the Canadian Opera Company . He was awarded the National Arts Centre...
, Larysa Kuzmenko
Larysa Kuzmenko
Larysa Kuzmenko is a Juno Awards-nominated Canadian composer and pianist based in Toronto. Many of her works have been published by Boosey and Hawkes and she has been commissioned to write pieces by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Hannaford Street Silver Band, the International Women's...
, Joseph Lerner
Joseph Lerner
Joseph Lerner is a Canadian composer and political analyst. His writings cover a diverse range of subjects. In 2007, he held the position of Communication Analyst-Strategist in Provincial Election in Ontario, Canada.- External links :**...
, Michel Longtin
Michel Longtin
Michel Longtin is a Canadian composer and music educator. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre and a member of the Canadian League of Composers, he won the Jules Léger Prize for New Chamber Music in 1986 for Pohjatuuli....
, Gene Martynec
Gene Martynec
Canadian musician/composer Eugene Martynec first came to prominence as a guitarist in Toronto group Bobby Kris & The Imperials in August 1965...
, John Mills-Cockell
John Mills-Cockell
John Mills-Cockell is a Canadian composer in various media. He has created scores for Vancouver Playhouse, The National Arts Centre, Firehall Centre for the Arts, Citadel Theatre, Glasgow Museum of Art, and Phoenix Theatre. Past commissions include works for the National Ballet, Toronto Dance...
, Allan Rae
Allan Rae (composer)
Allan Rae is a Canadian composer, conductor, and trumpeter based in Calgary. An associate and former board member of the Canadian Music Centre and a member of the Canadian League of Composers, he is particularly known for his works for the theatre which include several musicals and operas as well...
, Eric Robertson
Eric Robertson (composer)
Eric Nathan Robertson is a Scottish composer, organist, pianist, and record producer who has been primarily active in Canada. A two time Gemini Award winner, he has composed more than 60 film scores and written music for a number of television series in Canada and the United States...
, Clark Ross
Clark Ross
Clark Winslow Ross is a Canadian composer, guitarist, and music educator of Venezuelan birth. A composer of mainly works for orchestra and chamber music, he has won first prize in composition competitions held by the Hamilton Philharmonic , the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra , Symphony Nova Scotia...
, Ann Southam
Ann Southam
Ann Southam, CM was a Canadian composer.She was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2010. She died, aged 73, on 25 November 2010...
, Ben Steinberg
Ben Steinberg
Ben Steinberg is a Canadian composer, conductor, organist, and music educator. A member of the Canadian League of Composers and an associate of the Canadian Music Centre, he is particularly known for his contributions to Jewish music...
, Timothy Sullivan
Timothy Sullivan (composer)
Timothy Richard Sullivan is a Canadian composer, pianist, and music educator. A member of the Canadian League of Composers and an associate of the Canadian Music Centre, he has been commissioned to write works for ARRAYMUSIC, Donald Bell, and the Stratford Festival among others...
, Roman Toi
Roman Toi
Roman Toi is a Canadian composer, choir conductor, and organist. Influenced by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Toi's music is melodic, lyrical, and melancholic in style. His compositional output includes nine cantatas , three symphonies , and more than 80 choral works...
, Ben Trowell, Ruth Watson Henderson
Ruth Watson Henderson
Ruth Louise Watson Henderson is a Canadian composer, pianist, and music educator. She has been the accompanist for the Toronto Children's Chorus since its inception in 1978 and is currently on the faculty of The Royal Conservatory of Music where she has taught for many years...
, John Welsman
John Welsman
John Welsman is a Canadian composer. The grandson of conductor Frank Welsman and the brother of jazz singer Carol Welsman, he studied music composition privately with Samuel Dolin and Milan Kymlicka. He is best known for his film and television scores which he has written for production companies...
, Wes Wraggett, and Jack Zaza.