The music scene

Music animates the ceremonies and festivals of Ottawa’s Francophone community. As an integral part of religious rituals, music is advanced by the Church and its institutions. Each parish has its choir, some even have music groups. Music directors in the churches enjoy great prestige. Music also resonates out of the churches. Folk music arrives in the region along with the first French Canadians. With time, its repertoire diversifies through new harmonies, even new creations. These images of the region’s Francophone music scene remind us of the successs of Ottawa groups at home and beyond.

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J.B. Boucher, first director of the Sainte-Anne music group, known as the Fanfare de Sainte-Anne (Ste-Anne Parish of Ottawa), 1873.

University of Ottawa, CRCCF, Fonds Paroisse Sainte-Anne d’Ottawa (C72), Ph131-16.

Sepia photograph of a middle-aged man wearing a uniform and a large mustache. He stands in front of a richly carved lectern which holds music scores and a trumpet. The name and title of the subject are handwritten at the bottom of the picture.

J.B. Boucher

First director of the Sainte-Anne music group, known as the Fanfare de Sainte-Anne (Ste-Anne Parish of Ottawa), 1873.

University of Ottawa, CRCCF, Fonds Paroisse Sainte-Anne d’Ottawa (C72), Ph131-16.

Sepia photograph of a middle-aged man wearing a uniform and a large mustache. He stands in front of a richly carved lectern which holds music scores and a trumpet. The name and title of the subject are handwritten at the bottom of the picture.

Seminarist musicians

Postcard of seminarists with their musical instruments, Ottawa, [1910-1914].

University of Ottawa, CRCCF, Fonds Georges-Michaud (P62), Ph59-713.

Black and white photograph of a group of fifteen musicians of various ages. Five are sitting, with the others standing behind. All wear cassocks and hold their instruments.

“Les voix de mon pays”

“Les voix de mon pays”, poem by Maurice Morisset, arranged for music by Oscar O’Brien, p. 1-3, [19- -?]. Maurice Morisset is very active in the artistic scene. In addition to being co-owner of La Justice (1912-14), published in Ottawa, and a translator in the federal government, he is a songwriter and poet.

University of Ottawa, CRCCF, Fonds Maurice-Morisset (P31), P31/1/5.

Sheet music, with lyrics printed in French, and music in the key of G for voice and piano.
Sheet music, with lyrics printed in French, and music in the key of G for voice and piano.Sheet music, with lyrics printed in French, and music in the key of G for voice and piano.

Festival de la chanson et des métiers du terroir

Program of the Festival de la chanson et des métiers du terroir (Festival of regional song and crafts), Château Frontenac, Québec, 1928. On the cover, Les Troubadours de Bytown quartet: Émile Boucher, Fortunat Champagne, Miville Belleau and Charles Marchand.

University of Ottawa, CRCCF, Fonds Émile-Boucher (P205), P205/10/7.

Cover page of a French document. The name of the event appears in large letters in the centre of the page, surrounded by a decorative frame. At the top of the page, a B&W photograph shows four performers wearing overalls, checkered shirts and hats. At the bottom, the name of the event sponsors.

Émile Boucher

Émile Boucher, member of the Troubadours de Bytown vocal quartet, Ottawa [ca. 1927].

University of Ottawa, CRCCF, Fonds Émile-Boucher (P205), Ph179-3.

Black and white photograph of a mature man wearing a mustache, heavy shirt, hat, and woven sash. He is smiling.

Joseph Beaulieu

Joseph Beaulieu, musician and composer [ca. 1955]. Joseph Beaulieu teaches piano and singing at the University of Ottawa. He establishes the Petits Chanteurs Céciliens choir, which he directs from 1931 to 1942. This musician also composes nearly 200 songs in the folk and religious traditions, several of which are published in the series “La Bonne Chanson.” Photo: Champlain Marcil. 
 

University of Ottawa, CRCCF, Fonds Joseph-Beaulieu (P40), Ph40-83.

Black and white studio photograph of a mature, balding man. He wears glasses, a checked suit and a black tie. He is smiling and holding a book in his right hand, titled Chantez, petits et grands (Sing, young and old).

Les Petits Chanteurs céciliens choir

Les Petits Chanteurs céciliens choir, directed by Joseph Beaulieu, Ottawa [ca. 1940]. Founded in 1931 by Joseph Beaulieu, Les Petits Chanteurs céciliens choir gives its first concert on February 26, 1932 at the University of Ottawa. This choir is created to prepare the young members in giving performances, and to allow them to deepen their singing and music theory skills. The musical repertoire of Les Petits Chanteurs céciliens is very diverse, including religious and classical songs, as well as folk songs of various origins.
 

University of Ottawa, CRCCF, Fonds Joseph-Beaulieu, (P40), Ph40-18.

Black and white photograph of a group of young men, of various ages, taken in a field. Some sit on the ground, others on chairs, and still others stand at the back. A middle-aged man holding a school bag sits in the centre of the group. All wear black trousers, shiny gray jackets, and ties.

Poètes de la chanson repertoire

Poètes de la chanson repertoire [ca. 195-?]. In 1949, Marcel Nolet establishes the choir called Les Poètes de la chanson with a group that sings during religious services at Ottawa’s Notre-Dame Cathedral under the direction of his father, Victor Nolet. The choir has a repertoire of more than 200 popular, classical, folk, sacred and religious songs, which it performs in seven languages, including French, English and Russian.

University of Ottawa, CRCCF, Fonds Les Poètes de la chanson (C114), C114/1/3.

Document printed in English and French. List of songs arranged by genre, with small boxes arranged in columns, allowing for the identification of songs sung at each concert. Some handwritten numbers, scribbles and lines are added in ink.
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