Calixa Lavallee

Full biography Calixa Lavallee

Calixa Lavallee (December 28, 1842 - January 21, 1891) was a French-Canadian-American musician and composer, best known for composing the music for "O Canada", the Canadian national anthem. Born in Quebec, Lavallee spent much of his life in the United States and was a Union Army band musician during the American Civil War. He was a prolific composer, and his works include operas, ballets, and numerous pieces for orchestra and choir.

Lavallee was a highly skilled musician and pianist, and he was deeply passionate about music education. He worked tirelessly to promote music education in Canada, and was instrumental in establishing the first public music school in Quebec. He was also a proponent of creating a distinct Canadian musical identity, and his compositions often incorporated elements of French-Canadian and indigenous music.

Despite his contributions to Canadian music, Lavallee's personal beliefs and political leanings have been the subject of controversy. He was known to have somewhat frosty relationships with other prominent Canadian musicians of his time, and some have speculated that his decision to compose the music for "O Canada" was motivated more by financial gain than by a sense of patriotism. Additionally, Lavallee was known to be deeply critical of Canadian society and culture, once writing that "an artist is not meant to rot in an unenlightened and unappreciative country".

Despite these controversies, Lavallee's legacy as a composer and musician lives on. His music continues to be performed and studied today, and his role in creating a distinct Canadian musical identity remains an important part of his legacy.