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Jean Coulthard (1908-2000)

Jean Coulthard composerJean Coulthard was born in Vancouver; she wrote her first compositions under the supervision of her mother. Her early professional training was at the Royal College of Music in London, where her teachers included R. O. Morris and Ralph Vaughan Williams. In the 1930s and early 40s she had assessment critiques from Schoenberg, Milhaud and Bartók as well as further studies with Bernard Wagenaar in New York. Throughout the 1950s and 60s Coulthard forged her own tonally-based musical idiom and laid the foundations of her extensive repertoire, which encompasses over 350 works in virtually all musical genres. Coulthard's earliest works show the marked influence of the French impressionists and, to a lesser extent, the imprint of her early training in England. Immediately after the Second World War she was to develop her characteristic style: a blend of traditional formal processes with polytonally based and chromatically enriched harmonies. During the next three decades she wrote many new works, some intentionally designed to be accessible to the general musical public, others considerably more abstract and uncompromising. Very recent Coulthard works often explore a growing vocabulary of contemporary techniques - aleatory effects, microtones, musique concrète, tone clusters - all assimilated within the context of her personal voice.
-  Canadian Music Centre

COMPOSITIONS                                                            Coulthard  Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre
Cradle Song, female chorus and piano (1927)
Cradle Song (arr.), mezzo-soprano and piano (1927)
Threnody, chorus (1935)
Excursion, ballet (1940)
A Winter's Tale, string orchestra (1940)
Excursion, orchestra (1940)
Song to the Sea (formerly Convoy), overture, orchestra (1942)
Love Song, soprano and piano (1942)
Two Sonatinas, violin and piano (1945)
Four Études, piano (1945)
Music on a Quiet Song, flute and strings (1946)
Three Songs, soprano and piano (1946)
Two Songs, baritone and piano (1946)
Sonata for Cello and Piano (1947)
Sonata, piano (1947)
Sonata for Oboe and Piano (1947-48)
Quebec May, chorus and 2 pianos (1948)
String Quartet No. 1 (1948; rev. 1952)
Quiet Song, piano (1948)
Cycle of Three Love Songs, baritone and piano (1948)
Three Dances, piano (1950)
Symphony No. 1, orchestra (1951)
Variations on B-A-C-H, piano (1951)
Night Wind, alto and piano or soprano and orchestra (1951)
Duo Sonata for Violin and Piano (Sonata No. 1) (1952)
A Prayer for Elizabeth, orchestra (1953)
Rider on the Sands, orchestra (1953)
Sea Gulls, female chorus and piano (1954)
Threnody: String Quartet No. 2 (1954; rev. 1969)
Four Piano Pieces, piano (1954)
Sonatina 'Seascapes', piano (1956)
More Lovely Grows the Earth, chorus (1957)
Piano Quartet Sketches from a Mediaeval Town (1957)
The Devil's Fanfare, ballet (1958)
Four Bizarre Dances, violin and piano (1958) [drawn from the ballet The Devil's Fanfare]
Soft Fall the February Snows, male chorus and piano (1958)
Spring Rhapsody, alto and piano or orchestra (1958)
The Bird of Dawning Singeth All Night Long, violin, harp and string orchestra (1960)
Two Duets, soprano, tenor(alto) and piano (1960)
Two Night Songs, baritone and piano quintet (1960)
Serenade or a Meditation and Three Dances, string orchestra (1961)
Fantasy, violin, piano and orchestra (1961)
Aegean Sketches, piano (1961)
Sonata Rhapsody, viola and piano (1962)
Six Mediaeval Love Songs, baritone and piano (1962)
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1963)
Twelve Preludes, piano (1954-64)
Endymion, orchestra (1964)
The Signature of God, soprano, alto, chorus and piano (1964)
Sonata II (A Correspondence ), violin and piano (1964)
Noon Siesta, piano (1964)
Auguries of Innocence, chorus (1963-65)
Ballade of the North, violin and piano (1965-66)
Choral Symphony 'This Land' ('Symphony No. 2'), solists, chorus and orchestra (1966-67)
Music to Saint Cecilia, organ, tape and string orchestra (196?; arr. 1968)
Divertimento, flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon and piano (1968)
Lyric Trio, violin, cello and piano (1968)
Two Visionary Songs, soprano, flute and string orchestra/string quartet (1968)
Lyric Sonatina, bassoon and piano (1969)
The Pines of Emily Carr, alto, narrator, timpani, piano and string quartet (1969)
Sketches From the Western Woods, piano (1970)
Lyric Sonatina, flute and piano (1971)
The Birds of Lansdowne, violin, cello, piano and tape (1972)
Twelve Essays on a Cantabile Theme, 2 string quartets (1972)
Songs from the Distaff Muse, Set 1, soprano, alto and cello (1972)
Pieces for the Present, piano (1973)
Kalamalka 'Lake of Many Colours', orchestra (1974)
Canada Mosaic [Introduction and 3 folk songs], orchestra (1974)
Music on a Scottish Folk Song, violin and guitar (1974)
Songs from the Distaff Muse, Set 2, soprano, alto and piano (1974)
Lyric Symphony 'Symphony III', bassoon and chamber orchestra (1975)
Hymn of Creation, chorus (1975)
Four Prophetic Songs, alto, flute, cello and piano (1975)
Lyric Sonatina, clarinet and piano (1976)
Burlesca, piano and string orchestra (1977)
Symphonic Ode, viola and chamber orchestra (1977)
Three Sonnets of Shakespeare, alto and string quartet (1977)
Serenade, alto and violin (1977)
Fanfare Sonata, trumpet and piano (1978)
The Return of the Native, opera (1956-79)
Three Ballades From the Maritimes, chorus (1979)
Shizen: Three Nature Sketches From Japan, oboe and piano (1979)
Music of Our Time/Musique de notre temps. (9 vols, Wat 1977-80)
Vancouver Lights: A Soliloquy, soprano, baritone, chorus and orchestra (1980)
Pas de Deux: Sonatina for Flute and Bassoon (1980)
Two Idylls From Greece, baritone and piano (1980)
String Quartet No. 3 (1981)
Sonata No. 3 'À la jeunesse', violin and piano (1981)
Image Astrale, piano (1981)
Fantasy Sonata, horn and piano (1983)
À la jeunesse, works for young violinists (1983)
Christina Songs, high voice and piano (1983)
Lyric Sonatina, guitar (1984)
Autumn Symphony 'Symphony No. 4' (formerly Symphonic Images), string orchestra (1984-85)
Fanfare Overture, chorus and orchestra (1985)
Dopo Botticelli, cello and piano (1985)
Piano Sonata No. 2, piano (1986)
Shelley Portrait, alto, flute, clarinet, cello and piano (1987)
When Tempests Rise, soloists, chorus and orchestra (1988) [cantata drawn from the opera Return of the Native]
Symphonic Image 'Vision of the North', string orchestra (1989)
Duo Sonata for Violin and Cello (1989)


WORKS BY GENRE                                                            Coulthard  Links     ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Excursion, ballet (1940)
The Devil's Fanfare, ballet (1958)
The Return of the Native, opera (1956-79)

Orchestra
A Winter's Tale, string orchestra (1940)
Excursion, orchestra (1940)
Song to the Sea (formerly Convoy), overture, orchestra (1942)
Symphony No. 1, orchestra (1951)
A Prayer for Elizabeth, orchestra (1953)
Rider on the Sands, orchestra (1953)
Serenade or a Meditation and Three Dances, string orchestra (1961)
Endymion, orchestra (1964)
Kalamalka 'Lake of Many Colours', orchestra (1974)
Canada Mosaic [Introduction and 3 folk songs], orchestra (1974)
Autumn Symphony 'Symphony No. 4' (formerly Symphonic Images), string orchestra (1984-85)
Symphonic Image 'Vision of the North', string orchestra (1989)

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
The Bird of Dawning Singeth All Night Long, violin, harp and string orchestra (1960)
Fantasy, violin, piano and orchestra (1961)
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1963)
Music to Saint Cecilia, organ, tape and string orchestra (196?; arr. 1968)
Lyric Symphony 'Symphony III', bassoon and chamber orchestra (1975)
Burlesca, piano and string orchestra (1977)
Symphonic Ode, viola and chamber orchestra (1977)

Chorus w/Orchestra
Choral Symphony 'This Land' ('Symphony No. 2'), solists, chorus and orchestra (1966-67)
Vancouver Lights: A Soliloquy, soprano, baritone, chorus and orchestra (1980)
Fanfare Overture, chorus and orchestra (1985)
When Tempests Rise, soloists, chorus and orchestra (1988) [cantata drawn from the opera Return of the Native]

Choral
Cradle Song, female chorus and piano (1927)
Threnody, chorus (1935)
Quebec May, chorus and 2 pianos (1948)
Sea Gulls, female chorus and piano (1954)
More Lovely Grows the Earth, chorus (1957)
Soft Fall the February Snows, male chorus and piano (1958)
The Signature of God, soprano, alto, chorus and piano (1964)
Auguries of Innocence, chorus (1963-65)
Hymn of Creation, chorus (1975)
Three Ballades From the Maritimes, chorus (1979)

Also 7 junior choral pieces (1954-65)

Chamber
Music on a Quiet Song, flute and strings (1946)
String Quartet No. 1 (1948; rev. 1952)
Duo Sonata for Violin and Piano (Sonata No. 1) (1952)
Threnody: String Quartet No. 2 (1954; rev. 1969)
Piano Quartet Sketches from a Mediaeval Town (1957)
Divertimento, flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon and piano (1968)
Lyric Trio, violin, cello and piano (1968)
The Birds of Lansdowne, violin, cello, piano and tape (1972)
Twelve Essays on a Cantabile Theme, 2 string quartets (1972)
Music on a Scottish Folk Song, violin and guitar (1974)
Pas de Deux: Sonatina for Flute and Bassoon (1980)
String Quartet No. 3 (1981)
Duo Sonata for Violin and Cello (1989)

Solo Instrument
Two Sonatinas, violin and piano (1945)
Sonata for Cello and Piano (1947)
Sonata for Oboe and Piano (1947-48)
Four Bizarre Dances, violin and piano (1958) [drawn from the ballet The Devil's Fanfare]
Sonata Rhapsody, viola and piano (1962)
Sonata II (A Correspondence ), violin and piano (1964)
Ballade of the North, violin and piano (1965-66)
Lyric Sonatina, bassoon and piano (1969)
Lyric Sonatina, flute and piano (1971)
Lyric Sonatina, clarinet and piano (1976)
Fanfare Sonata, trumpet and piano (1978)
Shizen: Three Nature Sketches From Japan, oboe and piano (1979)
Sonata No. 3 'À la jeunesse', violin and piano (1981)
Fantasy Sonata, horn and piano (1983)
À la jeunesse, works for young violinists (1983)
Lyric Sonatina, guitar (1984)
Dopo Botticelli, cello and piano (1985)

Piano
Four Études, piano (1945)
Sonata, piano (1947)
Quiet Song, piano (1948)
Three Dances, piano (1950)
Variations on B-A-C-H, piano (1951)
Four Piano Pieces, piano (1954)
Sonatina 'Seascapes', piano (1956)
Aegean Sketches, piano (1961)
Noon Siesta, piano (1964)
Twelve Preludes, piano (1954-64)
Sketches From the Western Woods, piano (1970)
Pieces for the Present, piano (1973)
Image Astrale, piano (1981)
Piano Sonata No. 2, piano (1986)

Many early educational pieces
Music of Our Time/Musique de notre temps. (9 vols, Wat 1977-80)

Vocal
Cradle Song (arr.), mezzo-soprano and piano (1927)
Love Song, soprano and piano (1942)
Three Songs, soprano and piano (1946)
Two Songs, baritone and piano (1946)
Cycle of Three Love Songs, baritone and piano (1948)
Night Wind, alto and piano or soprano and orchestra (1951)
Spring Rhapsody, alto and piano or orchestra (1958)
Two Duets, soprano, tenor(alto) and piano (1960)
Two Night Songs, baritone and piano quintet (1960)
Six Mediaeval Love Songs, baritone and piano (1962)
Two Visionary Songs, soprano, flute and string orchestra/string quartet (1968)
The Pines of Emily Carr, alto, narrator, timpani, piano and string quartet (1969)
Songs from the Distaff Muse, Set 1, soprano, alto and cello (1972)
Songs from the Distaff Muse, Set 2, soprano, alto and piano (1974)
Four Prophetic Songs, alto, flute, cello and piano (1975)
Three Sonnets of Shakespeare, alto and string quartet (1977)
Serenade, alto and violin (1977)
Two Idylls From Greece, baritone and piano (1980)
Christina Songs, high voice and piano (1983)
Shelley Portrait, alto, flute, clarinet, cello and piano (1987)


COULTHARD  LINKS                                                            Works by Genre      ~ top of page ~
100th Anniversary Of Jean Coulthard (Li Robbins, CBC Radio 2)
Composers' Corner, Canadian Composer Jean Coulthard and Artist Emily Carr (Glenn D. Colton, IAWM Journal)
In Memoriam: Jean Coulthard (publicaffairs.ubc.ca)
Jean Coulthard: A life in Music (William Bruneau and David Gordon Duke, Ronsdale Press)
Jean Coulthard: A life in Music, A Review (J. Drew Stephen, CAML Review)
Jean Coulthard and Her World (J. H. Stape, reviewVancouver)
Jean Coulthard and Her World (Turning Point Ensemble)
Jean Coulthard Fonds (University of British Columbia Archives)
Jean Coulthard Fonds (British Columbia Archival Union List)
Jean Coulthard Readings (Vancouver Symphony Orchestra)
Leading Composer Celebrated (Stuart Derdeyn, The Province)
Obituary: Jean Coulthard (The Independent, London)
The Piano Music of Jean Coulthard: A Legacy of Beauty and Inspiration (Glenn Colton, IAWM Journal)
Review of Jean Coulthard (Charlene Biggs, CAML Review)
VISI Pays Tribute to North Shore Composer (Stephanie Kinnon, North Shore News)

Coulthard @ Wikipedia
Coulthard @ AllExperts
Coulthard @ Answers.com
Coulthard @ The Canadian Encyclopedia
Coulthard @ Canadian Music Centre
Coulthard @ Chester Novello
Coulthard @ Classical Composers Database
Coulthard @ Classical Net
Coulthard @ Clifford Publications - Molly and the Indians
Coulthard @ NationMaster
Coulthard @ Naxos
Coulthard @ Order of British Columbia
Coulthard @ Pianopedia
Coulthard @ Rare Spirits
Coulthard @ REC Music Foundation - The Lied and Art Song Texts Page
Coulthard @ Syrinx Sunday Salons     here    and    here
Coulthard @ WQXR

Streaming Audio
Coulthard @ Canadian Music Centre
Coulthard @ last.fm
Coulthard @ Rhapsody

Recordings
Coulthard @ ArkivMusic
Coulthard @ ClassicsOnline

Coulthard @ YouTube
[nothing at the moment]

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