Violet Archer

Violet Archer (April 24, 1913 – February 21, 2000) was a Canadian composer, teacher, pianist, organist, and percussionist. Born Violet Balestreri in Montreal, Quebec, her family changed their name to Archer. She died in Ottawa. [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0000278 Archer, Violet ] ]

Education and Teaching Career

Archer earned an L MUS from McGill in 1934, and a B MUS from McGill in 1936. [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0000101 Archer, Violet ] ] She travelled to New York in the summer of 1942 where she studied with Béla Bartók, "who introduced her to Hungarian folk tunes and to variation technique. She taught at the McGill Conservatory from 1944–1947. Later in the 1940's she studied with Paul Hindemith at Yale. She earned a B MUS from Yale in 1948, and a M MUS also from Yale in 1949, From 1950–53 Archer was Composer-in-Residence at the University of North Texas. [ [http://archive1.lse.ualberta.ca/FindingAids/VioletArcher/VioletArcher.html Violet Archer Fonds Finding Aid ] ] From 1953 through 1961 she taught at the University of Oklahoma. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20000309/ai_n14295592 Obituary: Violet Archer | Independent, The (London) | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ] Returning to Canada in 1961 for doctoral study at the University of Toronto, she set that aside when, in 1962, she joined the Faculty of Music at the University of Alberta. There she would become chairman of the Theory and Composition Department. She remained at the University of Alberta until her retirement. Her notable students include Larry Austin and Jan Randall.

Awards, Honors, and Popular Recognition

In 1983, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada. [ [http://www.gg.ca/honours/search-recherche/honours-desc.asp?lang=e&TypeID=orc&id=39 Order of Canada ] ]

The Canadian Music Centre Library in Calgary is named in her honour (The Violet Archer Library). [ [http://www.musiccentre.ca/pra.cfm Canadian Music Centre — Prairie ] ]

The Canadian indie rock band The Violet Archers is named for Archer. [http://www.thevioletarchers.com/about.htm See: "our namesake"]

Discography

"Women Composers for Organ", Barbara Harbach. Peterborough, NH: Gasparo Records (294), 2006. [ [http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7357139&cart=668191556&style=classical Women Composers For Organ — Amy Beach, Et Al / Harbach Classical ] ]
*Sonatina for Organ"Ovation, Volume 2". Toronto: CBC Records (PSCD 2027-5), 2002. [ [http://www.musiccentre.ca/apps/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspItemDetails&buyItemsID=469 Canadian Music Centre — About the CMC ] ]
* Sonata for Flute, Clarinet & Piano
* Landscapes
* Four Songs
* Ten Folksongs for Four Hands
* Divertimento for Saxophone Quartet
* Prairie Profiles
* Sonata for Unaccompanied Cello"Canadian Composers Portraits." Toronto: Centrediscs, (CMCCD 8502) 2002. [ [http://www.yorku.ca/caml/en/review/31-1/archer.htm Violet Archer. Canadian Composers Portraits ] ]
* Sinfonietta (CBC Vancouver Chamber Orchestra, John Avison, conductor)
*Trio no. 2 (The Hertz Trio)
*String Quartet no. 3 (University of Alberta String Quartet)
*The Bell (CBC Chorus and Orchestra, Geoffrey Waddington, conductor) "Northern Landscapes — A Tribute to Violet Archer", Sarah Muir and Ann Nichols, performers with the Columbian Girls Choir and Chanteuses. Place?, Date? [ [http://www.musiccentre.ca/apps/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspItemDetails&buyItemsID=493 Canadian Music Centre — About the CMC ] ]
* Northern Landscapes (3 movements)
* The Great Spirit
* April Weather
* Surly Burly Shirley
* O Sing unto the Lord
* Eight Short Songs for Young Singers
* Three Biblical Songs
* Someone
* Cradle Song
* Owl Queen
* The Mater Admirabilis Chape"Surrealistic Portraiture" Kenneth Fischer, saxophone, Martha Thomas, piano. Atlanta: ACA Digital (ACD 20036), 2001. [http://www.hbdirect.com/album_detail.php?pid=414101]
*Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano"By a Canadian Lady — Piano Music 1841–1997", Elaine Keillor, piano. Ottawa: Carleton Sound CD1006, 2000. [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaine_Keillor]
*Four Bagatelles"Assemblage", Charles Foreman, piano. Calgary: Unical (CD9501), 1995?. [ [http://www.musiccentre.ca/apps/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspItemDetails&buyItemsID=626 Canadian Music Centre — About the CMC ] ]
*Sonata No.2"NORTHERN ARCH, various artists, Edmonton: Arktos Recordings (ARK 94001), 1994. [ [http://eccsociety.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=cpage&file=preview&id=71 Northern Arch — CD ] ]
* Soliloquies for changing Bb and A clarinets (performed by Dennis Prime)"CROSSROADS", James Campbell, clarinet. Toronto: Centrediscs / Centredisques (CMCCD 4392), 1992. [ [http://www.musiccentre.ca/apps/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspItemDetails&buyItemsID=116 Canadian Music Centre — About the CMC ] ]
*Moods"Ballade", Charles Foreman, piano. Toronto: Centrediscs, (CMCCD 1684), 1991. [ [http://www.musiccentre.ca/apps/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspItemDetails&buyItemsID=104 Canadian Music Centre — About the CMC ] ]
*Theme and Variations on La-Haur"Hertz Trio". Calgary: Unical Records, 1991. [ [http://www.musiccentre.ca/apps/index.cfm?fuseaction=score.FA_dsp_details&bibliographyid=16294&dsp_page=1 Canadian Music Centre ] ]
*Trio No.2

ongs

* À La Claire Fontaine (SA and Piano) — Berandol Music

References

External links

* [http://archive1.lse.ualberta.ca/FindingAids/VioletArcher/VioletArcher.html University of Alberta Violet Archer Fonds Finding Aid]
* [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0000101 Violet Archer] at The Canadian Encyclopedia