Eric McLean (1919-2002)
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Eric McLean - Biography
McLean, Eric (Donald). Critic, historian, pianist, b Montreal 25 Sep 1919, d
there 19 Aug 2002; honorary LL D (Concordia) 1995. He studied piano in Montreal
with Alfred La Liberté and Paul Lafrance and later studied harmony and
composition with Champagne, privately and at the McGill Conservatory During
World War II he was a wireless operator for the RAF Transport Command. In 1946
he joined the Montreal Standard as assistant editor, becoming its music critic
the following year. In 1949 he succeeded H.P. Bell as music critic of the
Montreal Daily Star and served in that position until the Star closed in 1979.
In November of that year he became music critic of the Montreal Gazette,
retiring in 1988 with the title of 'critic emeritus.'
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One of the first advocates
of the preservation of historic Montreal McLean became a member, and later
president, of the Jacques Viger Commission in 1962 and wrote The Living Past of
Montreal (Montreal 1964; 3rd rev ed 1993). He was a member 1957-75 and later to
1998, and vice-president 1975-7, of the Arts Council of Greater Montreal,
president 1965-6 of the Music Critics' Association of America, and served on the
Canada Council 1970-7. Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (England), McLean was
also awarded the Canadian Music Council Medal in 1973 and was appointed an
Officer of the Order of Canada in 1975. In 1993 La Société historique de
Montréal awarded him its medal. His translation of Jean Palardy's Meubles
anciens du Canada francais was published in 1963 as The Early Furniture of
French Canada. He contributed articles to several music and art publications
(Opera Canada, including the 1990-95 series "Great Canadian musical figures of
the past"; the Canada Music Book, the Canadian Music Journal, The New Grove
Dictionary, and EMC) and broadcast often for CBC radio as a critic or
commentator. His reviews were a deft mixture of lucid writing, perceptive
judgment, scholarship, and subtle humour. His papers were donated to the NL of C
in 1986.
Writings
'Hanslick had it better,' World of Music, vol 14, no. 3, 1972
"Eric McLean remembers," Music McGill, spring 1992
Author Gilles Potvin, Betty Nygaard King
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