Rolland-G. Gingras

Gingras, Rolland-G.

Rolland-G. (Georges) Gingras. Organist, teacher, critic, composer, b Quebec City 21 Apr 1899, d there 14 Dec 1964; D MUS (Montreal) 1945. He began lessons in piano and organ with Omer Létourneau at 12 and continued with J.-Arthur Bernier, Henri Gagnon, and Berthe Roy. He studied harmony with Robert Talbot and Edmond Trudel.

Beginning in 1914 he was organist in several churches in the Quebec City area, chiefly at St-François d'Assise 1925-50, and St-Albert-le-Grand 1950-64. He conducted the Chanteurs de Saint-François and the Société chorale Saint-Gérard. As a teacher he was associated with various institutions in Quebec City and its surrounding region. As an impresario Gingras presented Yvonne Hubert, Gilberte Martin, and André Mathieu in Quebec City. He was in demand as a lecturer, and was a reporter or critic for various publications in France and in Canada. In Quebec City he published Les Hymnes nationaux (1934) and Questionnaire de théorie musicale. The critic of L'Action catholique, 17 Mar 1925, praised his L'Appel du missionnaire: 'The music is perfectly adapted to the words of the librettist [J.-Eugène Corriveau]... the audience especially enjoyed the operetta's graceful vocal ensembles'. Among Gingras's published works are Douze Chansons de France and 'Le Cantique officiel de la Ligue catholique féminine'. His compositions, most of which remain in manuscript, include the Quatre Chansons populaires, for soloists, choir, and orchestra.

Gingras was a founding member and director of the Association des chanteurs de Québec. He was named Commander of the Order 'Honneur et Mérite' of Haiti in 1943 and Chevalier de l'Ordre latin of France in 1949.