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Claude Champagne was a Canadian composer and conductor who was born on December 21, 1891, in Montreal, Quebec. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. His father, Joseph Champagne, was a violinist and conductor, and his mother, Marie-Louise, was a pianist. Champagne began his musical education at a young age, studying piano and violin with his parents. Champagne's talent as a composer was recognized early on, and he began studying composition with Guillaume Couture at the Conservatoire de musique et d'art dramatique du Québec in Montreal. He also studied with Charles-Marie Widor in Paris and with Vincent d'Indy at the Schola Cantorum in Paris. Champagne's early works were influenced by the French impressionist composers, particularly Claude Debussy. His first major work, the Suite canadienne, was premiered in 1915 and was well received. The suite was a tribute to Canadian folk music and included elements of French impressionism. Champagne's career as a composer and conductor flourished in the 1920s and 1930s. He was appointed conductor of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in 1924 and held the position until 1935. During his tenure, he introduced many works by Canadian composers to the orchestra's repertoire. Champagne's compositions during this period were characterized by a blend of French impressionism and Canadian folk music. His most famous work, the Danse villageoise, was premiered in 1929 and became an instant hit. The piece is a lively and rhythmic dance that incorporates elements of French and Canadian music. Champagne's other notable works from this period include the Rapsodie canadienne, which was premiered in 1930 and is a tribute to Canadian folk music, and the Symphony in E-flat major, which was premiered in 1938 and is considered one of his most ambitious works. Champagne's career was interrupted by World War II, during which he served in the Canadian Army. After the war, he returned to Montreal and resumed his career as a composer and conductor. He was appointed conductor of the Quebec Symphony Orchestra in 1946 and held the position until 1951. Champagne's later works were more experimental and incorporated elements of serialism and atonality. His Symphony no. 2, which was premiered in 1951, is a prime example of this style. The symphony is a complex and challenging work that reflects Champagne's interest in modernist techniques. Champagne continued to compose and conduct until his death on March 21, 1965. His legacy as a composer and conductor is significant, particularly in Canada, where he is considered one of the country's most important classical composers. His works continue to be performed and recorded by orchestras around the world.

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