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Composer

 

Rufus Guinchard was a Canadian composer and musician who was born on August 22, 1929, in St. Joseph's, Newfoundland. He was the youngest of six children and grew up in a musical family. His father played the accordion, and his mother sang and played the piano. Guinchard began playing the fiddle at the age of six and quickly became proficient in the instrument. Guinchard's family moved to St. John's when he was a teenager, and he began playing in local dance bands. He also started composing his own music, drawing inspiration from the traditional Newfoundland and Labrador folk music he grew up with. In 1951, Guinchard joined the Canadian Army and was stationed in Germany, where he continued to play music and compose. After leaving the army, Guinchard returned to Newfoundland and began performing with his own band, Rufus Guinchard and His Orchestra. He also started recording his music, and his first album, "Newfoundland Fiddling," was released in 1959. The album featured Guinchard's original compositions as well as traditional Newfoundland tunes. Over the next few decades, Guinchard continued to compose and perform, becoming one of the most well-known and respected musicians in Newfoundland and Labrador. He was known for his virtuosic fiddle playing and his ability to blend traditional Newfoundland music with other genres, such as jazz and classical. One of Guinchard's most famous compositions is "The Wild Rover," a traditional Newfoundland tune that he arranged for orchestra. The piece was first performed by the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra in 1979 and has since become a staple of Newfoundland and Labrador's musical repertoire. Guinchard also composed several other pieces for orchestra, including "The Banks of Newfoundland," "The Grand Banks Suite," and "The Labrador Suite." These works were inspired by the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador and showcased Guinchard's unique blend of traditional and classical music. In addition to his work as a composer and performer, Guinchard was also a dedicated music educator. He taught fiddle and violin to students of all ages and was known for his patient and encouraging teaching style. Many of his students went on to become successful musicians in their own right. Guinchard received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Order of Canada in 1989 and the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. He continued to perform and compose until his death on January 10, 2000, at the age of 70. Today, Guinchard's music continues to be celebrated and performed in Newfoundland and Labrador and beyond. His legacy as a composer, performer, and educator has had a lasting impact on the music of his home province and on the wider world of classical and traditional music.

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