Coulthard, Jean, 1908-2000

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Jean Coulthard was born in Vancouver and began her musical training with her mother Jean Robinson Coulthard at the age of five and by nine was writing her first compositions. In 1928, Coulthard won a scholarship from the Vancouver Women's Music Club enabling her to enrol in the Royal College of Music in London, England and to study under Ralph Vaughan Williams. Upon receiving a Licentiate in Composition from the College (1932), Coulthard returned to Vancouver where she taught music at St. Anthony's College and Queen's Hall College (1932-1938) while continuing to develop her skills as a composer. In 1935, she married Donald Adams, a noted local designer. Coulthard was asked to join the newly created Department of Music at the University of British Columbia in 1947. She remained on staff as a senior instructor and lecturer until her retirement in 1973. Since her retirement, Coulthard has remained active in education, as a faculty member at the Shawnigan Lake Summer School for the Arts (1974-1976), the Victoria Conservatory (1977), the Banff Centre Composers' Workshop (1978-1979) and the Okanagan Music Festival for Composers (1975-1985). Coulthard has composed extensively for orchestras, chamber groups, piano, voice and choir. Well-known compositions include Cradle Song, Threnody, Canadian Fantasy, Ballade "A Winter's Tale" and her opera Return of the Native. Coulthard has acted as an advocate for the Canadian music community as both a founding member of the Canadian League of Composers (1951-) and as a member and associate composer of the Canadian Music Centre (1959-). She has received numerous prizes and awards, including the Order of Canada (1978), the Order of British Columbia (1994), and honourary degrees from UBC (1988) and Concordia University (1991), in recognition of her significant contributions to Canadian music.

From the description of Jean Coulthard fonds. 1898-1998. (University of British Columbia Library). WorldCat record id: 606455804

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Coulthard, Jean, 1908-2000. Sketches from the western woods : three impressionist pieces for the piano / by Jean Coulthard. McGill University Library
referencedIn E. Robert Schmitz Papers, 1909-1991 (inclusive) Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
creatorOf Coulthard, Jean, 1908-2000. Cycle of three love songs : for low voice / words from "The ill tempered lover" by L.A. McKay [sic] ; music by Jean Coulthard. McGill University Library
creatorOf Coulthard, Jean, 1908-2000. Twelve essays on a cantabile theme : for double string quartet / by Jean Coulthard. McGill University Library
creatorOf Coulthard, Jean, 1908-2000. Cycle of three love songs / Jean Coulthard. McGill University Library
creatorOf Coulthard, Jean, 1908-2000. Threnode : a song of sorrow / words by Robt. Herrick ; [music by] Jean Coulthard. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Coulthard, Jean, 1908-2000. Fanfare sonata : for trumpet (C) and piano / by Jean Coulthard. University of Alberta
creatorOf Coulthard, Jean, 1908-2000. Piano sonata II : July-August/86 / by Jean Coulthard. McGill University Library
creatorOf Coulthard, Jean, 1908-2000. Two songs for baritone / Jean Coulthard ; [words by James Joyce]. McGill University Library
creatorOf Coulthard, Jean, 1908-2000. Two night songs : for bass baritone, string quartet, piano / music by Jean Coulthard. McGill University Library
referencedIn Nicolas Slonimsky Collection, 1873-1997, (bulk 1920-1990) Library of Congress. Music Division
creatorOf Coulthard, Jean, 1908-2000. Quebec May : for chorus and chamber orchestra / by Jean Coulthard ; poem: Earle Birney. McGill University Library
creatorOf Coulthard, Jean, 1908-2000. Jean Coulthard fonds. University of British Columbia Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Belloc, Hilaire, 1870-1953 person
associatedWith Birney, Earle, 1904-1995 person
associatedWith Coulter family. family
associatedWith Coulthard, Jean Robinson. person
associatedWith Coulthard, Walter. person
associatedWith E. Robert Schmitz person
associatedWith Herrick, Robert, 1591-1674 person
associatedWith Joyce, James, 1882-1941. person
associatedWith MacKay, L. A. (Louis Alexander), b. 1901 person
associatedWith Monro, Harold, 1879-1932 person
associatedWith Slonimsky, Nicolas, 1894-1995 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Choruses, Secular (Mixed voices) with chamber orchestra
Music
Music by women composers
Piano music
Sonatas (Piano)
Sonatas (Trumpet and piano)
Song cycles
Songs (Low voice) with instrumental ensemble
Songs (Low voice) with piano
Songs (Low voice) with string orchestra
Songs (Medium voice) with piano
Songs with piano
String octets (Violins (4), violas (2), violoncellos (2))
Suites (Piano)
Variations (Violins (4), violas (2), violoncellos (2))
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1908-02-10

Death 2000-03-09

Canadians

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