Pierre Mercure

Who was Pierre Mercure?

Pierre Mercure is, Canadian composer, TV producer, bassoonist, administrator. Premier prix Harmony, Counterpoint, Deuxième prix bassoon 1949. His main composition teacher was Claude Champagne. He also studied composition briefly with Nadia Boulanger in Paris and Luigi Dallapiccola at Tanglewood.

Pierre Mercure began his compositional career in the world of ballet, composing four ballets in a short period in 1948 and 1950, going on to compose orchestral, chamber and electronic music as well. He sought to make the Canadian new music community catch up with the developments of western classical music in Europe and the United States, taking many trips to France in order to absorb its contemporary music scene.