Role

:

Composer Performer

Country

:

Canada

Birth

:

April 21, 1916 in Queenstown, New Brunswick, Canada

Death

:

August 21, 2008 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

Eldon Rathburn was a Canadian composer who was born on April 27, 1916, in Queenstown, New Brunswick. He was the youngest of six children and grew up in a musical family. His father was a church organist, and his mother was a pianist. Rathburn began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. Rathburn's family moved to Ottawa when he was a child, and he continued his musical education there. He studied piano with Gladys Egbert and composition with Healey Willan. In 1936, he received a scholarship to study at the Toronto Conservatory of Music, where he studied composition with Leo Smith and piano with Alberto Guerrero. After completing his studies, Rathburn worked as a pianist and arranger for CBC Radio in Toronto. He also composed music for radio dramas and documentaries. In 1948, he moved to Montreal to work for the National Film Board of Canada, where he composed music for over 250 films. Rathburn's film scores were highly regarded, and he won numerous awards for his work. In 1957, he won the Canadian Film Award for Best Original Score for the film "City of Gold." He also won the award in 1960 for "The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar" and in 1962 for "The Luck of Ginger Coffey." In addition to his work in film, Rathburn also composed concert music. His compositions were influenced by his love of nature and his interest in the music of other cultures. He often incorporated elements of folk music into his compositions. One of Rathburn's most famous works is his "Canadian Folk Song Suite," which he composed in 1954. The suite is a collection of traditional Canadian folk songs arranged for orchestra. It includes "Land of the Silver Birch," "Un Canadien Errant," and "I'se the B'y." The suite has become a staple of Canadian orchestral repertoire and is often performed by orchestras across the country. Another notable work by Rathburn is his "Symphony No. 2," which he composed in 1960. The symphony is a tribute to the Canadian landscape and is divided into four movements, each representing a different season. The work is characterized by its lush harmonies and sweeping melodies. Rathburn also composed music for ballet. In 1967, he composed the score for the National Ballet of Canada's production of "The Ecstasy of Rita Joe." The ballet tells the story of a young Indigenous woman who leaves her reserve to live in the city and is faced with racism and discrimination. Rathburn's score incorporates elements of Indigenous music and is considered a landmark work in Canadian ballet. Throughout his career, Rathburn was a champion of Canadian music and worked to promote the work of other Canadian composers. He was a founding member of the Canadian League of Composers and served as its president from 1965 to 1967. He also taught composition at McGill University in Montreal and the University of Ottawa. Rathburn continued to compose music until his death in 2008 at the age of 92. His contributions to Canadian music were recognized with numerous awards, including the Order of Canada in 1978 and the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in 2000. In conclusion, Eldon Rathburn was a Canadian composer who made significant contributions to both film and concert music. His love of nature and interest in other cultures influenced his compositions, which often incorporated elements of folk music. His "Canadian Folk Song Suite" and "Symphony No.

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