Frank Hanson

Hanson, Frank

Frank (Franklin Keith) Hanson. Teacher, composer, b Lynn, Mass, 8 Aug 1899, naturalized Canadian late 1920s, d Montreal 16 Jan 1975; B MUS (McGill) 1931, D MUS (McGill) 1947. Raised in Lynn, and in Cincinnati where he studied piano, he moved in 1914 with his family to Toronto. There he took organ lessons at the TCM with Harvey Robb. Studies followed at the Sherwood School of Music (Chicago), the ESM (Rochester), the American Institute of Normal Methods (Auburndale), the Juilliard School and Columbia U (New York), and at McGill University with Douglas Clarke (composition) and Alfred Whitehead (organ). He joined the extension department at McGill University in 1923, and taught keyboard harmony and pedagogy there 1935-40. Among his pupils were Rafael Masella and Ronald Turini. He became instructor at West Hill High School (Montreal) in 1937 and taught 1940-54 at McGill's MacDonald College. He was a music adviser and examiner for the Quebec Dept of Education. By 1963, when he retired, he was chairman of general education, institute of education, MacDonald College. Hanson wrote elementary school textbooks and articles for journals and newspapers. During his teaching career, composition remained a secondary activity. He composed little between 1947 (Symphony of Canada, his doctoral thesis) and 1963 except arrangements for choir or organ. His works include Hornpipe (1934, performed by the Montreal Orchestra under Douglas Clarke), a string quartet, and pieces for violin, for piano, and for flute.