Keith Bissell

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Keith Warren Bissell (born February 12, 1912 in Meaford , † May 9, 1992 in Newmarket , Ontario ) was a Canadian composer, conductor and music teacher.

Bissell worked from 1934 to 1948 as a teacher in Toronto and also earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Toronto , where Leo Smith was his teacher. In 1948 he became Supervisor of Music for the Edmonton Schools and organist at Christ Church and founded the Edmonton Teachers' Chorus and the Edmonton Junior Symphony Orchestra . From 1955 to 1976 he was Music Coordinator of the Scarborough Board of Education , and in 1963 he and John Adaskin organized the first Canadian composers' seminar for music education at the Canadian Music Center .

After studying with Gunild Keetman and Carl Orff in 1960 , he introduced the methods of the Orff school system to the Scarborough school system . After the Scarborough Teachers' Chorus (1956) he founded the Scarborough Orff Ensemble in 1960 , which existed until 1973. From 1957 to 1958 he was President of the Ontario Music Educators Association (OMEA), from 1970 to 1971 of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYO) and from 1975 to 1977 of the Canadian Music Center .

In addition to songs, choral works and arrangements, Bissell also composed chamber music, orchestral works, two operettas and a children's opera. In 1976, an annual award for a Canadian choral work for school use was donated in his name. In 1978 Bissell was awarded the Canadian Music Council Medal .

Works

  • Ballad for violin and piano, 1947
  • Three Pieces for orchestra, 1960
  • A Folk Song Suite for Woodwinds , 1960
  • Under the Apple Boughs for orchestra, 1961
  • Concertino for Piano and String , 1962
  • Little Suite for Trumpet and Piano, 1962
  • Adagio for Small Orchestra , 1963
  • Little Suite for Trumpet and Strings , 1963
  • His Majesty's Pie , operetta, 1964
  • Divertimento for orchestra, 1964
  • People Look East , cantata for soprano, tenor, bass, mixed choir, trumpet, trombone, organ and timpani, 1965
  • Let There Be Joy , cantata for soprano, tenor, mixed choir, flute, cello, glockenspiel, xylophone and organ, 1965
  • Canada, Dear Home / Canada douce patrie for mixed choir and orchestra, 1966
  • A Bluebird in March for mixed choir and orchestra, 1967
  • Andante e Scherzo for orchestra, 1971
  • The Passion According to St Luke for soloists, choir and orchestra, 1971
  • How the Loon Got Its Necklace for narrator, string quintet and percussion, 1971
  • Variations on a Canadian Folk Song , 1972
  • Three Commentaries on Canadian Folk Songs for String Orchestra, 1973
  • A Musical Play , Operetta, 1977
  • Cantate Domino for female choir and chamber orchestra, 1977
  • Anniversary Cantata (Psalm 98) for mixed choir, orchestra, flutes and Orff instruments, 1978
  • A Celebration of the Nativity for soprano, baritone, mixed choir and chamber orchestra, 1978
  • Christmas in Canada for soloists, mixed choir and orchestra, 1978
  • The Miraculous Turnip , children's opera, 1980
  • In the Modes for flute and percussion, 1981
  • Great Little One: Music for the Nativity for mixed choir and orchestra, 1983
  • Canzona for Four Recorders and Three Pieces for Four Recorders , 1986

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personal data
SURNAME Bissell, Keith
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Bissell, Keith Warren (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Canadian composer, conductor and music educator
DATE OF BIRTH February 12, 1912
PLACE OF BIRTH Meaford
DATE OF DEATH May 9, 1992
Place of death Newmarket , Ontario