Peggie Sampson

Peggie Sampson (1912–2004) was a cellist, viola da gambist and educator.

Early life Margaret Sampson was born February 16, 1912, in Edinburgh, Scotland. She was the daughter of Ida Binney and Ralph Sampson, an astronomer. Peggie was raised as a Quaker and began studying cello at the age of eight, first studying with Ruth Waddell. She would later study with Guilhermina Suggia in Portugal. In 1963 she founded the Manitoba University Consort with Christine Mather which performed music composed between 1100 and 1800. Both Mather and Sampson were responsible for the collection and transcription of music for the group. It was during this period that Sampson became interested in the gamba and by the end of the 1960s it had replaced the cello as her main instrument. During this time she also commissioned work to expand the modern repertoire for the viola da gamba.

She was invited to perform three times at the Aldeburgh Festival, in 1972, 1974 and 1976.

Some notable performances during her career include:

Bach's "Passions" Murray Adaskin's "Two pieces" in 1972 David Rosenboom's "The seduction of Sapientia", 1975 Rudolf Komorous' "At your memory the transparent tears fall like molten lead", 1976

Later life Sampson retired from full-time teaching at York in 1977 but continued to teach at Wilfrid Laurier University until 1984 and was active in the early music scene in Toronto. She lived with her long time companion Juliette del Junco in Toronto and died at the age of 92.

Discography Source: Eckhardt-Gramatté Duo concertante; Suite No. 6 - Tovey Elegiac Variations. Irons piano. (Ca 1966). RCI 224/RCA CCS-1018 Handel - Bach - Locke. Redekop-Penner harpsichord. 1969. CBC SM-110 Ortiz - de Chambonnières - Schenk - Cabezon - Couperin - anonymous. Redekop-Fink harpsichord. 1974. CBC SM-229 Ortiz - Schenk - Buxtehude - Marais - Bach - Bloch. Redekop-Penner harpsichord. 1968. CBC SM-69 Rosenboom The Seduction of Sapientia - M. Adaskin Two Pieces for Solo Viola da Gamba - Sampson Improvisation on a Theme from Tobias Hume. 1976–7. Music Gallery Editions MGE-7 Works for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord: Marin Marais - Tobias Hume. S. Shapiro harpsichord. (Ca 1977). Orion ORS-74162 Viola da Gamba Suites: Marin Marais - S. Shapiro, Harpsichord. (2006) Marquis Classics Distribution EMI

Awards and honours Canadian Music Council medal (1985) Hon. Doctor of Laws degree from Wilfrid Laurier University (1987) Hon. Doctor of Letters degree from York University (1988) Peggy Sampson Scholarship awarded by York University