Filed under: composers, resources, women's history month. Tagged as: Violet Archer.
Violet Archer (1913-2000), Canadian composer, pianist, percussionist, organist, and educator, received recognition and acclaim throughout Canada and the United States. She was a student of Béla Bartók and Paul Hindemith, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1983, and had The Canadian Music Centre Library named in her honor. She was also an active performer, including being a percussionist with the Montreal Women’s Symphony Orchestra. Her achievements extend beyond there, including having a Canadian indeed rock band named after her – follow the link to learn more about the band The Violet Archers.
Her works, which were written for small and large ensembles and number over 280, have been actively recorded in Canada. The Canadian Music Centre has more information about Archer, including an extensive biography, sample recordings, and samples of her scores.
Below is an example of her vocal writing, “Green Rain”: