Alain Gagnon

Gagnon, Alain

Alain Gagnon. Composer, teacher, b Trois-Pistoles, Que, 22 May 1938; B MUS (Laval) 1963, L MUS composition (Laval) 1964. He began teaching himself the piano but continued 1951-8 with Father Philippe-Antoine Lavoie at the Rimouski Seminary. In 1960 he enrolled at the CMQ for organ tuition with Henri Gagnon. He also studied composition with Roger Matton at Laval University and in 1963 received the Governor-General's Medal, and in 1964 an award from the French government. He studied composition 1964-5 with Jocelyne Binet, and in 1965 he received the Prix d'Europe and scholarships from the Canada Council and the Quebec Ministry of Education. In Paris he studied 1965-6 with Henri Dutilleux at the École normale and Olivier Alain at the École César-Franck. He also studied briefly at the Institut de Sonologie of Utrecht, in 1966 and with André-François Marescotti at the Geneva Cons in 1967. In 1967 he began teaching theory, analysis, and composition at Laval University. His Prélude, commissioned by the Quebec Symphony Orchestra with the help of a grant from the Canada Council, was premiered by the orchestra in 1969 under Pierre Dervaux. A fervent admirer of Debussy, Gagnon believes that composition is a matter alike of technique and of humanism. He is a member of the CLComp and an associate of the Canadian Music Centre.

Selected Compositions

Orchestra
Esquisse, Opus 7. 1965. Ms

Prélude, Opus 17. 1969. Ms

Suite chorégraphique, Opus 30. 1983. Orch (piano). Ms

Aux sources du soleil, Opus 32. 1985. Ms

Writings

Alain Gagnon, 'Autour d'une sonate,' VM, 9, Oct 1968

Soloist with Orchestra

L'Enfant roi, Opus 33 (Alain Gagnon). 1988. Sop, orch. Ms

Chamber

3 String Quartets, Opus 4, l0, l8. (1964, 1966, 1970). Ms. (Opus 10) RCI 363 (Classical Quar of Montreal)

Prélude., Opus 16. 1968. Guit. Ms

Septet, Opus 19. 1973. Chamb ensemble. Ms

Largo, Opus 21. 1974. 3 guitar. Ms

Interlude, Opus 22. 1975. 3 guitar. Ms

Trio, Opus 24. 1979. Fl, violin, violoncello. Ms

Fantaisie lyrique, Opus 28. 1982. Alto saxophone, piano. Leduc 1983

Souvenirs d'Iguazu, Opus 34. 1988. Alto saxophone, piano. Ms

Keyboard

5 Préludes, Opus 1. 1964. Pf. Ms

4 Sonatas, Opus 2, 5, 11, 14. (1964, 1964, 1966, 1967). Pf. Ms (Opus 11) CBC SM-52/RCI 274/Sel CC-15.007(C. Savard)/(Opus 14) Madrigal MAS-416 (A.-S. Savoie)

Aquarelles, Opus 8. 1965. Pf. Ms

Mirages, Opus 9. 1966. Pf. Ms. RCI 252 (J. Dufresne)

Les Grottes de Castellana, Opus 13. 1967. Pf. Ms

Bagatelles, Opus 23. 1978. Pf. Ms

Eaux-fortes, Opus 24. 1979. Pf. Dob-Yppan 1982

Pastourelle, Opus 26. 1980. Org. Ostiguy 1983. Centrediscs CMC-1784 (Wedd)/Alpec A-81029/7-RCI 538 (R. Daveluy)

Jeux dans l'espace, Opus 27. 1981. Pf. Dob-Yppan 1982. SNE 553 (L. Bessette)

Incandescence, Opus 29. 1982. Pf. Ms

Ode à l'aurore, Opus 31. 1983. Org. Ostiguy 1985

Choir and Voice

'Le Citharède', Opus 3 (Alain Gagnon). 1964. Med voice (bar), piano. Ms

Illusions d'antan, Opus 6 (Alain Gagnon). 1965. Med voice (bar), piano. Ms ('Tristesse') RCI 393 (B. Laplante)

Rumeurs et visions, Opus 12 (A. Rimbaud). 1966. 3 soprano, SSAATB. Ms

'Que je t'accueille' Opus 15 (St-Denys Garneau). 1968. Med voice, piano. Ms. RCI 393 (B. Laplante)

Les Oies sauvages, Opus 20 (Maupassant). 1973. Sop, 7 instr. Ms