Keywords Composers Musicologists

As Teacher
During these same years he taught at Laval University, first composition (Alain Gagnon was one of his pupils), then the history of contemporary music 1960-3 at the School of Music, and ethnomusicology 1963-89 in the Department of Canadian Studies and in the Department of History.

As Composer
Matton's views on contemporary music were revealed to the critic Marc Samson: 'I write my music to be listened to, not for the sake of putting it down on paper. To this end I call upon auditory memory, within the broadest limits, and upon acoustics. For I believe in the acoustic virtues of music, not in cerebral data' (Quebec City Le Soleil, 19 Dec 1970). Of his Concerto for two pianos and orchestra, dedicated to the duo-pianists Bouchard and Morriset, Serge Garant stated 'its writing is praiseworthy. One discovers aggressiveness, energy and that true lyricism, never maudlin, that so well characterizes his music. Though close to that of Bartók, Matton's music remains traditional. The rhythmic thrust, the pianistic and orchestral writing still belong to the pre-Webernian soundscape' (Journal des Jeunesses musicales du Canada, Jan 1966).

A skilled and resourceful orchestrator, Matton wrote mostly for large instrumental forces. 'His music is characterized by a highly original style, with a vibrant rhythmic capacity, a good sense of symphonic writing, and an idiom which - while entirely modern - retains tonal centres' (Thirty-four Biographies). His Mouvement symphonique II, commissioned by the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (MSO) for its European tour in 1962, was premiered in Montreal and later played in Moscow, Leningrad, and Kiev - one of the first symphonic works by a Canadian composer to be performed in the Soviet Union. His monumental Te Deum, though written in 1967 for the inauguration of Quebec City's Grand Théâtre, was performed first at the 65th anniversary of the Quebec Symphony Orchestra. It also was given in Europe in 1969 by the choir and orchestra of the Office de la radiodiffusion-télévision française and in 1977 at the 125th anniversary of Laval University. The Te Deum was followed by a seven-year silence, after which the Mouvement symphonique III (commissioned by the Grand Théâtre) was premiered in 1974. The Mouvement symphonique IV was performed in the 1980 concert season of the Quebec Symphony Orchestra and in 1983 by the MSO. In 1984 organist Claude Lagacé premiered his work Tu es Petrus in honour of Pope Jean-Paul II's visit to Quebec City. In his later years Matton was little heard from, due to illness, although his works continued to be performed.

Awards and Recordings
Bouchard and Morisset's recording of Matton's Concerto for two pianos and orchestra won the Prix Pierre-Mercure at the 1966 Festival du disque, Montreal. Matton himself was awarded the Prix de création musicale canadienne at the 1965 Congrès du spectacle, Montreal, and the Prix de musique Calixa-Lavallée in 1969. He was the recipient in 1975 of the Canada Council's Lynch-Staunton Award. In 1977 he was made an honorary member of the Montreal Elgar Choir, and in 1984 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. The CBC broadcast a documentary on Matton on 8 Sept 1977. Volume 29 of RCI's Anthology of Canadian Music (5-ACM 29), issued in 1987, is devoted to Matton's compositions. More recently, his Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra was recorded by Leslie Kinton, James Anagnoson, and the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra (CBC Records SMCD 5120). He was an associate of the Canadian Music Centre and a member of the Canadian League of Composers.

Selected Compositions
OrchestraDanse lente (Gymnopédie). 1947 (Sherbrooke 1947). Chamb orch. Ms

Pax. 1950. Orch. Ms

Mouvement symphonique I. 1960 (Quebec City 1960). Orch. Ric 1978. RCI 454/5-ACM 29 (Quebec Symphony Orchestra)

Mouvement symphonique II (Musique pour un drame). 1962 (Montreal 1962). Och. Ric 1979. RCI 230/RCA LSC-2980/Vic VICS-1040/Mel SMLP-4039/5-ACM 29 (MSO)/Bell 1987 (Conservatoire de musique du Québec Orch)

Mouvement symphonique III. 1974 (Quebec City 1974). Orch. Ms

Mouvement symphonique IV. 1978 (Quebec City 1980). Orch. Ric 1982. 5-ACM 29 (MSO)

See also L'Horoscope.

Soloist(s) and Orchestra
Concerto. 1948 (Montreal 1948). Saxophone, string orch. Ms

L'Escaouette (traditional Acadian themes). 1957 (Montreal 1957). Sop, mezzo, tenor, bar, SATB, Orch. Ms. CBC SMCD-5090 (Orch métropolitain)

Concerto. 1964 (Quebec City 1964). 2 piano, orch. CMCentre. CRI SD-317/Cap SW-6123/5-ACM 29 (V. Bouchard)

Te Deum (F.-A. Savard). 1967 (Quebec City 1967). Bar, SATB, orch, tape. Ms. RCI 290/Sel SSC-24.188/5-ACM 29 (R. Savoie)

Chamber
Étude. 1946. Cl, piano. Ms

Esquisse. 1949. Str quartet. Ms

Concerto. 1955. 2 piano, percussion. Ms. RCI 145/5-ACM 29 (J. Dufresne)/RCI 442 (D. Morton)

Keyboard
Berceuse. 1945. Pf. Ms. RCI 135/5-ACM 29 (J. Dufresne)

Danse brésilienne. 1946 (rev orch 1971). 2 piano (orch). Dob-Yppan 1986 (2 piano) RCI 145/5-ACM 29 (J. Dufresne)/RCI 442 (D. Morton)

Trois Préludes. 1949. Pf. Dob-Yppan 1985. RCI 135/5-ACM 29 (J. Dufresne)

Suite de Pâques. 1952. Org. Ostiguy 1985. RCI 481 (H. McLean)/5-ACM 29 (Arel)

Tu es Petrus. 1984. Org. Ex Arte 1986. 5-ACM 29 (Arel)

Writings
'J'étais élève de Claude Champagne,' Culture vivante, vol 2, Dec 1968

'Mouvement symphonique no 2 de Roger Matton,' VM, 17, Sep 1970

Author Hélène Plouffe, Betty Nygaard King

Bibliography

Bisbrouck, Noël. 'A ''L'Heure du concert,'' un compositeur canadien: Roger Matton,' SemRC, vol 15, 20-6 Feb 1965

Links to Other Sites
Canadian Music Centre
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