Ernest Gagnon

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Ernest Gagnon, folklorist, organist (b Frédéric-Ernest-Amédée at Rivière-du-Loup [Louiseville], Qué 7 Nov 1834; d at Québec City 15 Sept 1915). Member of a prominent Québec City musical family, Gagnon is most noted for his work as a collector of French Canadian FOLK MUSIC. His song transcriptions, published 1865-67 as Chansons populaires du Canada, not only helped conserve a rich heritage, but alerted the musical world to the dignity and beauty of Québec's oral song tradition. He also took a keen interest in First Peoples' music and wrote a piano composition, Stadaconé (1858), which appears to be the first notated composition genuinely based on Aboriginal materials in North America. Gagnon was also an expert plainsong accompanist and virtuoso organist at St-Jean-Baptiste Church 1853-64 and at the Québec Basilica 1864-76. A number of his piano, vocal and choral compositions have been published in the Canadian Musical Heritage, volumes one, two and seven.

Author BARCLAY MCMILLAN Revised: ELAINE KEILLOR


Links to Other Sites
The Requiem Survey
This alphabetical survey contains classical, vocal requiems (and their composers) including fragments and unfinished ones in the original Latin text as well as in other languages (e.g. German requiems,) requiem-songs, motets and profane requiems. Instrumental ones are not included.

The Minuit, Chrétiens in Québec
An article about the controversial introduction of "Minuit Chrétiens" to Canadians by Ernest Gagnon. From "La Scena Musicale."

Christmas Tradition
Scroll down the page for audio samples from this Canadian Brass recording. From arkivmusic.com.

Ernest Gagnon
A biography of musician Ernest Gagnon from the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online.

Ernest Gagnon on Nationalism and Canadian Music: Folk and Native Sources
An article about Ernest Gagnon and his devotion to French-Canadian musical heritage. From the Canadian Journal for Traditional Music.

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