Donald Patriquin

Donald Patriquin (born October 21, 1938, in Sherbrooke, Quebec) is a Canadian composer, organist, and choral conductor. Known internationally for choral and instrumental arrangements of folk music, Patriquin was a member of the Faculty of Music of McGill University from 1965 to 1996. He currently resides in the Eastern Townships of Quebec.

Musical background Patriquin began composing at the age of 11, winning several awards through his youth while studying composition with Jean Papineau-Couture during summer sessions. He completed a biology degree at Bishop's University in 1959 before beginning his formal studies in music. He studied composition at McGill University with István Anhalt and at the University of Toronto with John Weinzwig, earning a Bachelor of Music degree from McGill in 1964 and an M.A. from Toronto in 1970. He also holds an A.Mus. degree in organ performance from McGill and an RCCO

Music Patriquin's compositions are best known for the use of folk music elements, and in his instrumental work for abstract noises imitating sounds of nature. This compositional style can be seen in such pieces as the Fantasy for Fiddle and the Hangman's Reel/Suite Carignan. Some of Patriquin's works include visual or other multimedia elements. Trois mois, composed in 1982, includes a diaporama, and Earthpeace II, a 1998 composition commemorating the victims of Chernobyl, is written for dancers and choir.

His music is published by Earthsongs, A Tempo, and Canadian International Music.

Discography En la Fête de Noël - O Holy Night. Various artists, 1999. Naxos Songs of Light. Jean Ashworth Bartle conductor, Ruth Watson Henderson piano, Toronto Children's Chorus. Marquis Classics, 253 (CD)

Works

Choral - a capella Take, O Take Those Lips Away. 1962 The Greenwood Tree. 1963 A Lover and His Lass. 1965 Black is the Colour of My True Love's Hair, arr. 1968 Sortilege. 1979 Magnificat. 1983 Il est né le divin enfant, arr. 1989 Sixtyfold Amen. 1989 An Old Gaelic Blessing. 1990 Antiphon and the Child of Mary. 1992

Choral - with accompaniment A Child's Carol. 1952 rev. 1992 Six Songs of Early Canada, arr. 1980 rev. 1992 Listen Sweet Dove. 1981 Six Noëls Anciens, arr. 1982 Songs of Innocence. 1984 Carol of the Fieldmice. 1985, rev. 1992 Chantons Noël. 1985 rev. 1992 Earthpeace Two. 1988 All Through the Night. arr. 1989 Introit. 1990 Prayer of Saint Francis. 1990 Requiem at Sea (The Titanic). 1992 'A Soalin', arr. 1992 On Christmas Day, arr. 1992 J'entends le Moulin, arr. 1992 Sister Mary Had One Child, arr. 1992 Un Canadien errant, arr. 1993 Overture to Christmas. 1993 The Five Seasons. 1997 World Music Suite. 1997 Mass for the Caribbean. 1998 Canadian Mosaic. 2000 Psalms & Canticles of Praise and Peace. 2003 Three love songs from the British Isles. 2007

Instrumental/Other Fantasy for Fiddle. 1975 Hangman's Reel/Suite Carignan. 1978 Blanche de Percé (for narrator, guitar, flute and percussion). 1982 Trois mois. 1982 Cycles (for soprano, piano and clarinet). 2004 Louisa's Story (musical with libretto by Sunil Mahtani). 2005