William Reed (musician)
Encyclopedia
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 contributing articles to music periodicals like The Etude. His compositional output mainly consists of sacred works, including many anthem
s and works for solo organ. His more well known works include the Christmas cantata
The Message of the Angels (1910), the cantata The Burden of the Cross (1912), the Easter cantata The Resurrection and the Life (1911), and the Grand Choeur in D for organ (1901). His pupil Henri Gagnon
considered the latter work "one of the very best Canadian compositions".
, Reed studied the organ in his youth with Romain-Octave Pelletier I
and Dominique Ducharme
. At the age of 19 he was awarded a scholarship to attend Keble College
, one of the constituent colleges
of the University of Oxford
, in England
. He served as the college's organist during the late 1870s and early 1880s, having beat out more than 30 applicants for the post.
After returning to Canada, Reed served as the organist/choirmaster at St Peter's Anglican Church in Sherbrooke, Quebec
from 1884-1888. He then returned to his native city to assume similar posts at American Presbyterian Church and St John the Baptist Church in 1888-1889. In 1899-1900 he was organist at St. Andrew's Church
in Toronto, and in 1901 he was guest organist at the Pan-American Exposition
in Buffalo
, New York
. From 1900-1913 he served as the organist/choirmaster at Chalmers-Wesley United Church and St. Andrew's Church
in Quebec City
. He died in Quebec City in 1945.
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...
, choir
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...
conductor
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...
, and 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...
. 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 contributing articles to music periodicals like The Etude. His compositional output mainly consists of sacred works, including many anthem
Anthem
The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music , or more generally, a song of celebration, usually acting as a symbol for a distinct group of people, as in the term "national anthem" or "sports anthem".-Etymology:The word is derived from the Greek via Old English , a word...
s and works for solo organ. His more well known works include the Christmas cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
The Message of the Angels (1910), the cantata The Burden of the Cross (1912), the Easter cantata The Resurrection and the Life (1911), and the Grand Choeur in D for organ (1901). His pupil Henri Gagnon
Henri Gagnon
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"...
considered the latter work "one of the very best Canadian compositions".
Life and career
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...
, Reed studied the organ in his youth with 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:...
and Dominique Ducharme
Dominique Ducharme (musician)
Dominique Ducharme was a Canadian pianist, organist, and music educator. He studied with Paul Letondal and Charles Wugk Sabatier in Canada before studying for 5 years at the Conservatoire de Paris in France with Antoine Marmontel and François Bazin...
. At the age of 19 he was awarded a scholarship to attend Keble College
Keble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
, one of the constituent colleges
Colleges of the University of Oxford
The University of Oxford comprises 38 Colleges and 6 Permanent Private Halls of religious foundation. Colleges and PPHs are autonomous self-governing corporations within the university, and all teaching staff and students studying for a degree of the university must belong to one of the colleges...
of the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He served as the college's organist during the late 1870s and early 1880s, having beat out more than 30 applicants for the post.
After returning to Canada, Reed served as the organist/choirmaster at St Peter's Anglican Church in Sherbrooke, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
from 1884-1888. He then returned to his native city to assume similar posts at American Presbyterian Church and St John the Baptist Church in 1888-1889. In 1899-1900 he was organist at St. Andrew's Church
St. Andrew's Church (Toronto)
St. Andrew's Church, 73 Simcoe Street, Toronto is a large and historic Romanesque Revival Presbyterian church in downtown Toronto, Canada.-History:...
in Toronto, and in 1901 he was guest organist 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 Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, 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...
. From 1900-1913 he served as the organist/choirmaster at Chalmers-Wesley United Church and St. Andrew's Church
St. Andrew's Church (Quebec City)
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Quebec City is a Presbyterian Church in Canada congregation in the Upper Town of Quebec City.The congregation's roots began with the British conquest of Quebec at the Plains of Abraham in 1759. Under the leadership of Church of Scotland Chaplain Robert MacPherson...
in Quebec City
Quebec 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...
. He died in Quebec City in 1945.