Joseph-Daniel Dussault

Dussault, Joseph-Daniel

Joseph-Daniel Dussault. Organist, teacher, b Charlesbourg, near Quebec City, 6 Jan 1864, d Montreal 1 Apr 1921. He studied organ with his father, Cléophas, an organist in Charlesbourg, and after 1879 with Gustave Gagnon in Quebec City. At the same time he was organist at the Jesuits' church until his appointment to the parish church of Lotbinière, where he was organist 1881-9. He also studied in Boston and New York. At the suggestion of R.-O. Pelletier he went to Paris to continue his training 1889-91 under Eugène Gigout. On his return to Canada, he was organist 1891-2 at the St-Hyacinthe Cathedral and organist-choirmaster 1892-6 at St Paul's Church in Oswego, NY. He was invited to succeed Alcibiade Béique at Notre-Dame Church in Montreal and held that position from 1896 until his death, giving nearly 100 recitals there. He taught at McGill University and in several other institutions, including the convents of Villa-Maria and Lachine and that of the Dames du Sacré-Coeur. His pupils included Jean-Noël Charbonneau and Hector Pellerin. In a program 9 Apr 1935 on CBC radio Arthur Letondal recalled him: 'A brilliant organist both in concert and in church services, Dussault was an artist who was really absorbed in his art'.

Dussault 'revised and amplified' J.S. Eschmann's Guide du jeune pianiste (Montreal ca 1890). He had undertaken the compilation of an 18-volume work, L'Organiste liturgique, but only the first two volumes were published, appearing after 1900. Because of the church music reforms advocated by Pope Pius X's Moto proprio (1903; see Plainsong), the series was discontinued.