Hervé Baillargeon

Baillargeon, Hervé

Hervé Baillargeon. Flutist, teacher, b L'Acadie, near Montreal, 30 Sep 1899, d Montreal 29 Dec 1991. He began to study flute at Farnham College and continued privately in Montreal with Francis Boucher. As early as 1920 he performed at the Place Viger Hotel, then was a member of the Canadian Grenadier Guards Band and later 1929-30 of the radio orchestra at CKAC, Montreal. He was principal flute 1930-41 of the Montreal Orchestra, 1935-65 of the MSO, 1941-52 of the Little Symphony of Montreal and other orchestras, as well as at the CBC, and was a soloist or chamber musician in numerous concerts for Pro Musica, the Ladies' Morning Musical Club, and other organizations. He played flute obbligatos for the sopranos Pierrette Alarie, Jean Dickenson, and Lily Pons. In 1949 he recorded (RCI 8) Jean Coulthard'sMusic on a Quiet Song and Harald Saeverud's Divertimento for flute and strings with a CBC Montreal orchestra under Jean-Marie Beaudet. His recording of the Coulthard work was re-issued (1982) on 6-ACM 10. He taught 1935-65 at McGill University, 1943-70 at the CMM, 1946-57 at the CMQ, and at various times at other institutions. His pupils include his son Marcel, Robert Cram, Jean-Paul Major, and Gail Grimstead. In 1945 he was made an honorary member of the Toronto Flute Club.

See also Gilles Baillargeon (his son).

Writings

'La flûte traversière ou flûte d'orchestre,' Musique et musiciens, Dec 1953