Archer(originally, Balestreri), Violet
Archer(originally, Balestreri), Violet
Archer(originally, Balestreri), Violet, Canadian composer and teacher; b. Montreal, April 24, 1913; d. Ottawa, Feb. 21, 2000. She studied with Shearwood–Stubington (piano; Teacher’s Licentiate, 1934) and Weatherseed (organ) at the McGill Cons., and composition with Champagne and Douglas Clarke at McGill Univ. (B.Mus., 1936). After receiving her assoc. diploma from the Royal Canadian Coll. of Organists (1938), she studied composition with Bartók in N.Y. (1942) and with Donovan and Hindemith at Yale Univ. (B.Mus., 1948; M.Mus., 1949). Later she pursued studies in electronic music at the Royal Cons, of Music of Toronto (1968) and at Goldsmith’s Coll., Univ. of London (1973). From 1940 to 1947 she was percussionist in the Montreal Women’s Sym. Orch.; from 1943 to 1947 she taught at the McGill Cons. After serving as percussionist of the New Haven (Conn.) Sym. Orch. (1947–49), she was composer–in–residence at N. Tex. State Coll. in Dentón (1950–53). From 1953 to 1961 she taught at the Univ. of Okla. She was assoc. prof. (1962–70) and then prof. (1970–78) at the Univ. of Alberta, where she also served as head of the theory and composition dept. (1962–78). In 1983 she was made a Member of the Order of Canada. In 1993 her 80th birthday was celebrated with a festival of her music under the auspices of the Univ. of Alberta and the CBC. Hindemith’s influence is paramount in many of her works; also prevalent is the use of folk elements. Overall, her music is structurally strong, polyphonically disciplined, and generally kept within organized tonality, with occasional dodecaphonic episodes.
Works
DRAMATIC: Opera: Sganarelle (1973; Edmonton, Feb. 5, 1974); The Meals (1983; Edmonton, Oct. 19, 1985). ORCH.: Poem (1940); Scherzo Sinfonico (1940); Fantasia Concertante for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Strings (1941); Britannia—A Joyful Overture (1941); Fantasy for Clarinet and Strings (1942); Fantasy on a Ground (1946; rev. 1956); Sym. (1946); Clarinet Concertino (1946; rev. 1956); Fanfare and Passacaglia (1949); Piano Concerto (1956); Divertimento (1957); Violin Concerto (1959); 3 Sketches (1961); Prelude–Incantation (1964); Sinfonietta (1968); Sinfonia (1969); Little Suite for Strings (1970); Divertimento for Piano and Strings (1985); Evocations for 2 Pianos and Orch. (1987); Improvisation on a Name for Chamber Orch. (1987); 4 Dialogues for Classical Guitar and Chamber Orch. (1990). CHAMBER: 3 string quartets (1940, 1949, 1981); Sonata for Flute, Clarinet, and Piano (1944); Quartet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1944); Fantasy for Violin and Piano (1946); Divertimento No. 1 for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1949) and No. 2 for Oboe, Violin, and Cello (1957); Fantasy in the Form of a Passacaglia for Chamber Ensemble (1951); 2 string trios (1953, 1961); 2 piano trios (1954, 1957); Prelude and Allegro for Violin and Piano (1954); Cello Sonata (1956); Violin Sonata (1956); Divertimento for Brass Quintet (1963); Introduction, Dance, and Finale for Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Tuba, Harp or Piano, and Percussion (1963); Horn Sonata (1965); Clarinet Sonata (1970); Suite for 4 Violins (1971); Alto Saxophone Sonata (1972); Oboe Sonata (1973); Little Suite for Trumpet and Piano (1975); Sonata for Viola, Cello, and Piano (1976); Suite for Flute (1976); Oboe Sonatina (1977); Bassoon Sonatina (1978); Clarinet Sonatina (1978); Divertimento for Saxophone Quartet (1979); Bassoon Sonata (1980); Sonata for Solo Cello (1981); 12 Miniatures for Violin and Piano (1982); Celebration for Brass Quintet (1983); Ikpakhuag for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1984); I va vari for Brass Quintet (1985); Moods for Clarinet and Alto Saxophone (1985); 6 Miniatures for String Bass and Piano (1986); 4 Miniatures for Classical Accordion (1988); 3 Essays for Saxophone (1988); Improvisation for Snare Drum (1990); Prelude and Dance for Timpani (1990); One Fifth on Four for Xylophone, Celesta, Piano, Clarinet, and Piano (1991). keyboard: piano:3 Scenes (1945); 2 sonatas (1945, rev. 1957; 1979); 3 sonatinas (1945, 1946, 1973); 6 Preludes (1947); 3 Sketches for 2 Pianos (1947); Suite (1947); Theme and Variations on Là’Haut (1952); 10 Folk Songs for Piano, 4–Hands (1953); Rondo (1955); 11 Short Pieces (1960); Theme and Variations (1963); Improvisations (1968); Lydian Mood and a Quiet Chat (1971); 4 Bagatelles (1977); 4 Contrapuntal Moods (1978); Here and Now (1980); 4 Vignettes for Piano, 4–Hands (1984); Dancing on the Seashore (1991). Organ: Sonatina (1944); 2 Chorale Preludes (1948); Chorale Improvisation on O Worship the King (1967); Prelude and Fantasy on Winchester New (1978); Festive Fantasy (1979); Improvisation on Veni Creator (1984); Variations on Aberystwyth (1984). VOCAL: Liturgical pieces for Chorus and Organ; secular choruses and songs. ELECTRONIC: Episodes (1973).
Bibliography
L. Hartig, V A.: A Bio–Bibliography (N.Y., 1991).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire