Violet Archer
Encyclopedia
Violet Archer, CM
(April 24, 1913 – February 21, 2000) was a Canadian
composer, teacher, pianist, organist, and percussionist. Born Violet Balestreri in Montreal, Quebec, her family changed their name to Archer. She died in Ottawa
.
in 1934, and a B MUS from McGill in 1936. She travelled to New York
in the summer of 1942 where she studied with Béla Bartók
, "who introduced her to Hungarian folk tunes and to variation technique. She taught at the McGill Conservatory from 1944–1947. Later in the 1940s she studied with Paul Hindemith
at Yale
. She earned a B MUS from Yale in 1948, and a M MUS also from Yale in 1949, From 1950–53 Archer was Composer-in-Residence at the University of North Texas
. From 1953 through 1961 she taught at the University of Oklahoma. Returning to Canada in 1961 for doctoral study at the University of Toronto
, she set that aside when, in 1962, she joined the Faculty of Music at the University of Alberta
. There she would become chairman of the Theory and Composition Department. She remained at the University of Alberta until her retirement. Her notable students include Larry Austin
and Jan Randall
.
.
The Canadian Music Centre Library in Calgary is named in her honour (The Violet Archer Library).
The Canadian indie rock
band The Violet Archers
is named for Archer.
"Women Composers for Organ", Barbara Harbach
. Peterborough, NH: Gasparo Records (294), 2006.
"Ovation, Volume 2". Toronto: CBC Records (PSCD 2027-5), 2002.
"Canadian Composers Portraits." Toronto: Centrediscs, (CMCCD 8502) 2002.
"Northern Landscapes — A Tribute to Violet Archer", Sarah Muir and Ann Nichols, performers with the Columbian Girls Choir and Chanteuses. Edmonton, 1997.
"Surrealistic Portraiture" Kenneth Fischer, saxophone, Martha Thomas, piano. Atlanta: ACA Digital (ACD 20036), 2001.
"By a Canadian Lady — Piano Music 1841–1997", Elaine Keillor, piano. Ottawa: Carleton Sound CD1006, 2000.
"Assemblage", Charles Foreman, piano. Calgary: Unical (CD9501), 1995?.
"NORTHERN ARCH, various artists, Edmonton: Arktos Recordings (ARK 94001), 1994.
"CROSSROADS", James Campbell, clarinet. Toronto: Centrediscs / Centredisques (CMCCD 4392), 1992.
"Ballade", Charles Foreman, piano. Toronto: Centrediscs, (CMCCD 1684), 1991.
"Hertz Trio". Calgary: Unical Records, 1991.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(April 24, 1913 – February 21, 2000) was a Canadian
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...
composer, teacher, pianist, organist, and percussionist. Born Violet Balestreri in Montreal, Quebec, her family changed their name to Archer. She died in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
.
Education and Teaching Career
Archer earned an L MUS from McGill UniversityMcGill 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...
in 1934, and a B MUS from McGill in 1936. She travelled to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the summer of 1942 where she studied with Béla Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
, "who introduced her to Hungarian folk tunes and to variation technique. She taught at the McGill Conservatory from 1944–1947. Later in the 1940s she studied with Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith was a German composer, violist, violinist, teacher, music theorist and conductor.- Biography :Born in Hanau, near Frankfurt, Hindemith was taught the violin as a child...
at Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
. She earned a B MUS from Yale in 1948, and a M MUS also from Yale in 1949, From 1950–53 Archer was Composer-in-Residence at the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
. From 1953 through 1961 she taught at the University of Oklahoma. Returning to Canada in 1961 for doctoral study at 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...
, she set that aside when, in 1962, she joined the Faculty of Music at the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
. There she would become chairman of the Theory and Composition Department. She remained at the University of Alberta until her retirement. Her notable students include Larry Austin
Larry Austin
Larry Austin is a United States composer noted for his electronic and computer music works. He was a co-founder and editor of the avant-garde music periodical Source: Music of the Avant Garde...
and Jan Randall
Jan Randall
Canadian composer Jan Randall is known primarily for his work in television and theatre. A pianist and singer, he has composed chamber music and songs in a wide variety of contemporary styles.Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1952...
.
Awards, Honors, and Popular Recognition
In 1983, she was made a Member of the Order of CanadaOrder of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
The Canadian Music Centre Library in Calgary is named in her honour (The Violet Archer Library).
The Canadian indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band The Violet Archers
The Violet Archers
The Violet Archers is a Canadian indie pop band. Led by former Rheostatics bassist Tim Vesely, the band consists of Vesely on vocals, Yawd Sylvester on guitar, drummer Camille Giroux, bassist Scott Remila, Ida Nilsen on piano...
is named for Archer.
Discography
- Archer plays the "Jig"
"Women Composers for Organ", Barbara Harbach
Barbara Harbach
Barbara Harbach is a composer, harpsichordist, organist and teacher. Since 2004, she has been Professor of Music at the University of Missouri-St. Louis...
. Peterborough, NH: Gasparo Records (294), 2006.
- Sonatina for Organ
"Ovation, Volume 2". Toronto: CBC Records (PSCD 2027-5), 2002.
- Sonata for Flute, Clarinet & Piano
- Landscapes
- Four Songs
- Ten Folksongs for Four Hands
- Divertimento for Saxophone Quartet
- Prairie Profiles
- Sonata for Unaccompanied Cello
"Canadian Composers Portraits." Toronto: Centrediscs, (CMCCD 8502) 2002.
- Sinfonietta (CBC Vancouver Chamber Orchestra, John Avison, conductor)
- Trio no. 2 (The Hertz Trio)
- String Quartet no. 3 (University of Alberta String Quartet)
- The Bell (CBC Chorus and Orchestra, Geoffrey Waddington, conductor)
"Northern Landscapes — A Tribute to Violet Archer", Sarah Muir and Ann Nichols, performers with the Columbian Girls Choir and Chanteuses. Edmonton, 1997.
- Northern Landscapes (3 movements)
- The Great Spirit
- April Weather
- Surly Burly Shirley
- O Sing unto the Lord
- Eight Short Songs for Young Singers
- Three Biblical Songs
- Someone
- Cradle Song
- Owl Queen
- The Mater Admirabilis Chape
"Surrealistic Portraiture" Kenneth Fischer, saxophone, Martha Thomas, piano. Atlanta: ACA Digital (ACD 20036), 2001.
- Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano
"By a Canadian Lady — Piano Music 1841–1997", Elaine Keillor, piano. Ottawa: Carleton Sound CD1006, 2000.
- Four Bagatelles
"Assemblage", Charles Foreman, piano. Calgary: Unical (CD9501), 1995?.
- Sonata No.2
"NORTHERN ARCH, various artists, Edmonton: Arktos Recordings (ARK 94001), 1994.
- Soliloquies for changing Bb and A clarinets (performed by Dennis Prime)
"CROSSROADS", James Campbell, clarinet. Toronto: Centrediscs / Centredisques (CMCCD 4392), 1992.
- Moods
"Ballade", Charles Foreman, piano. Toronto: Centrediscs, (CMCCD 1684), 1991.
- Theme and Variations on La-Haur
"Hertz Trio". Calgary: Unical Records, 1991.
- Trio No.2
External links
- University of Alberta Violet Archer Fonds Finding Aid
- Violet Archer at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...
See also
- Music of CanadaMusic of CanadaThe music of Canada has influences that have shaped the country. Aboriginals, the British, and the French have all made unique contributions to the musical heritage of Canada. The music has subsequently been heavily influenced by American culture because of its proximity and migration between...
- List of Canadian composers