Healey Willan

As a composer, organist, choir master and teacher, Healey Willan waged constant war on mediocre church music. In the process he elevated the position of the church organist and set the standard for his profession. Educated in the musical traditions of nineteenth-century England, Willan came to Canada in 1913 to take up a teaching position with the Toronto ( now Royal) Conservatory of Music. While serving as organist and choir master here at St. Mary Magdalene (1921-1968), he composed the sacred music for which he is best remembered, and for which he was awarded a Lambeth Doctorate in 1956.

À titre de compositeur, organiste, maître de chapelle et professeur, Healey Willan milita toute sa vie en faveur d’une musique sacrée de qualité. I1 fixa ainsi les normes de la profession d’organiste et en rehaussa le statut. Eduqué selon la tradition musicale britannique du XIXe siècle, il arriva au Canada en 1913 et devint professeur de musique au Toronto (Royal) Conservatory of Music. Il fut aussi organiste et maître de chapelle à St. Mary Magdalene de 1921 à 1968. C’est là qu’il composa la musique sacrée qui fit sa réputation et qui lui valut un doctorat Lambeth en 1956.