Lavallée, Calixa National Historic Person
Québec, Quebec
Calixa Lavallée
(© Library and Archives Canada | Bibliothèque et Archives Canada / C-070448)
Address :
22 Couillard Street, Québec, Quebec
Recognition Statute:
Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date:
1966-05-25
Life Date:
1842 to 1891
Other Name(s):
-
Lavallée, Calixa
(Designation Name)
Research Report Number:
1966-010
Importance:
Wrote the music for "O Canada" (1880), first famous Canadian musician
Plaque(s)
Existing plaque: 22 Couillard Street, Québec, Quebec
Calixa Lavallée was one of the first Canadian musicians to win an international reputation. He studied in Montréal and Paris and was, at various times, an itinerant musician, military bandsman, choral and orchestra conductor, teacher and composer in both his homeland and the United States. While resident in this house, Lavallée was asked to write an anthem for the Saint Jean-Baptiste Day celebrations of 1880. His composition, to words by Judge Adolphe-Basile Routhier, was O Canada.