Joseph Pierre Alexis Contant (12 November 1858 - 28
November 1918) was a Canadian composer, organist,
pianist, and music educator. The first notable Canadian
composer to be entirely trained in his native country,
he stated "I write not for glory but rather to satisfy
an irresistible need." Although he had considerable
training as a pianist, his knowledge of musical
composition was largely self-taught, although not by
choice as his life afforded him little opportunity to
find suitable teachers. M...(+)
Joseph Pierre Alexis Contant (12 November 1858 - 28
November 1918) was a Canadian composer, organist,
pianist, and music educator. The first notable Canadian
composer to be entirely trained in his native country,
he stated "I write not for glory but rather to satisfy
an irresistible need." Although he had considerable
training as a pianist, his knowledge of musical
composition was largely self-taught, although not by
choice as his life afforded him little opportunity to
find suitable teachers. Much of his time was spent
dedicated towards teaching, family, and work as a
church organist, and his compositional output was
minimal before 1900. As his children grew older, he was
able to devote more time to composition and therefore
his later life was his most productive. A stroke in
1914 virtually ended his activity as a composer.
"La Vierge à la Crèche" ("The Virgin at the Cradle"
or "Mary in the Manger") recounts the experience of the
Virgin Mary and the newborn Savior Jesus Christ. The
composition was intended for Piano and Mezzo Soprano.
The lyrics were created by Alphonse Daudet and
translate as:
In swaddling clothes white, freshly sewn
The Virgin cradled her Child Jesus
He chirped like a nest of birds
She rocked and sang softly
What we sing our little angels
But the Child Jesus did not fall asleep
Although originally written for Voice and Piano, I
created this arrangement for Flute and Concert (Pedal)
Harp.
PARTITION