Ridout, Godfrey

Ridout, Godfrey , Canadian composer, teacher, conductor, and writer on music; b. Toronto, May 6, 1918; d. there, Nov. 24, 1984. He studied at the Toronto Cons. with Charles Peaker (organ and counterpoint), Ettore Mazzoleni (conducting), Weldon Kilburn (piano), and Healey Willan (composition). He served on the faculties of the Toronto Cons. (from 1940) and the Univ. of Toronto (from 1948), retiring in 1982. He also was music director of the Eaton Operatic Soc. (1949–58), director of the Composers, Authors, and Publishers Assn. of Canada (1966–73), and a program annotator for the Toronto Sym. (1973–84). With T. Kenins, he ed. the vol. Celebration (Toronto, 1984). In his music, Ridout charted an eclectic path notable for its accessible style.

Works

DRAMATIC : La Prima Ballerina, ballet (1966; Montreal, Oct. 26, 1967); The Lost Child, television opera (1976). ORCH. : Ballade No. 1 (1938; Toronto, May 29, 1939) and No. 2 (1980) for Viola and Strings; Festal Overture (1939); Comedy Overture (1941); Dirge (1943); 2 Études for Strings (1946; rev. 1951); Esther, dramatic sym. for Soprano, Baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (1951–52; Toronto, April 29, 1952); Music for a Young Prince, suite (1959); Fall Fair (N.Y., Oct. 24, 1961); Overture to Colas et Colinette (1964); Partita academica for Concert Band (1969); Frivolités canadiennes, after melodies of Joseph Vézina (1973); Jubilee (1973); Concerto Grosso No. 1 for Piano, Violin, and Strings (1974; Toronto, Jan. 18, 1975) and No. 2 for Brass Quintet and Orch. (1980); George III, His Lament, variations on an old British tune (1975); Kid’s Stuff (1978); No Mean City: Scenes from Childhood (1983). chamber: Folk Song Fantasy for Piano Trio (1951); Introduction and Allegro for Woodwind Quintet, Violin, and Cello (1968); 2 Dances for Guitar (1976); Tafelmusik for Woodwind Ensemble (1976); A Birthday Fantasy for Flute, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1982); piano pieces; organ music. VOCAL : Cantiones Mysticae No. 1 for Soprano and Orch. (N.Y., Oct. 16, 1953), No. 2, The Ascension, for Soprano, Trumpet, and Strings (Toronto, Dec. 23, 1962) and No. 3, The Dream of the Rood, for Baritone or Tenor, Chorus, Orch., and Organ (1972); The Dance for Chorus and Orch. (1960); Pange lingua for Chorus and Orch. (1960); 4 Sonnets for Chorus and Orch. (1964); In Memoriam Anne Frank for Soprano and Orch. (Toronto, March 14, 1965); When Age and Youth Unite for Voice and/or Chorus and Orch. (1966); Folk Songs of Eastern Canada for Soprano and Orch. (1967); The Seasons for Tenor and Piano Quintet (1980); Exile for Narrator and 9 Instruments (1984).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire