Rafael Masella

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Rafael Masella (born October 1, 1922 in Montreal , † April 8, 2006 ibid) was a Canadian clarinetist , music teacher and composer .

Masella received his first musical training from his grandfather Raffaele and his father Frank Masella . From 1935 to 1939 he studied clarinet at McGill University with Joseph Moretti , from 1939 to 1941 at the Juilliard School with Jan Williams and Arthur Christman . He then returned to McGill University, where he studied music theory with Claude Champagne and harmony and composition with Henri Miro and Frank Hanson . At the Paris Conservatory, he completed his training with Auguste Périer from 1946–48and François Étienne .

During his student days, Masella was a member of the Canadian Grenadier Guards Band in 1937 . From 1943 to 1950 he was principal clarinetist in the band of the Royal Canadian Air Force . In 1947 he won a second prize at the Concours de Genève , making it the first ever Canadian prize winner at this competition. In the same year he played Émilien Allard's Divertissement for clarinet and orchestra at the Festival of Canadian Music in Paris .

With Colombe Pelletier and Gilles Lefebvre he founded the Trio canadien in Paris , which performed in France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Canada in 1948. Between 1950 and 1960 he performed with his brothers Pietro and Rodolfo Masella as the Masalla Wind Trio . From 1944 to 1946 and from 1948 to 1970 he was also principal clarinetist with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra . As a guest he appeared with the Little Symphonies Orchestra of the CBC (in Marius Flothius ' double concerto with saxophonist Arthur Romano , 1963) and the McGill Chamber Orchestra (with Andrew Twas Serenade , 1964), and he gave concerts with his wife, the Harpist Dorothy Weldon .

From 1955 to 1965 Masella taught at the McGill Conservatory , from 1958 to 1988 at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec and from 1989 at McGill University . His students included Gilles Carpentier , Jean Laurendeau and Victor Sawa . His Fantaisie for piano was premiered in 1940 by Fleurette Beauchamp-Huppé . His compositions also include an Ave Maria for soprano and piano (1941), a menuet for piano, The Nanyon Parade (1941), a waltz for piano and military band (1942) and a sonata for violin and piano (1949 by Norman Herschorn and Gilbert Hill premiered). In addition to the aforementioned Pietro and Rodolfo, his brothers Joseph , Alfred , Paul , Mario and Giulio Masella also became known as musicians.

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Individual evidence

  1. ^ Obituary (French) , accessed June 30, 2017