Barbara Pentland facts for kids

Barbara Pentland C.M. (born January 2, 1912 – died February 5, 2000) was a very important composer from Canada. She was one of the top musicians who became famous after World War Two.

About Barbara Pentland's Life and Music

Barbara Pentland was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. When she was a child, she had a heart problem that made it hard for her to play a lot or be very social. Because of this, she spent a lot of time learning and reading.

When she was 9, she started learning the piano. Soon, she wanted to write her own music. But her teacher and her family didn't like this idea. They thought it was a strange hobby and "too exciting for a delicate child."

Even though her family didn't approve, Barbara kept writing music secretly when she was a teenager. Later, one of her teachers, Frederick H. Blair, encouraged her. He taught her piano and music theory.

In 1929, her family finally agreed for her to study music in Paris. After that, she came back home and continued her studies. She also started a career as a concert pianist, playing music for audiences.

Learning New Music Styles

In 1936, Barbara went to the Juilliard School in New York City. She learned about old music styles and new ways to compose. During this time, her music sounded "neoclassical." This means it was inspired by composers like Paul Hindemith and Igor Stravinsky. She even studied with famous American composer Aaron Copland in the summers of 1941 and 1942. Her music was even part of an art competition at the 1948 Summer Olympics in 1948!

In 1955, Barbara's music style changed again. She discovered the work of Anton Webern, a composer who used a special technique called "serialism." Barbara didn't use this style strictly, but she took ideas from it. Her new music became "atonal," meaning it didn't always follow traditional keys. Many people think the music she wrote during this time is her best. It was described as having a unique and personal lyrical sound.

Challenges and Recognition

Even though Barbara Pentland was a leader in new Canadian music, she faced many challenges. As a woman composer writing "difficult" music, some male performers and composers didn't take her seriously. Her teaching career at the University of British Columbia was short because of disagreements about music standards.

After she had to stop composing due to illness, Barbara became less known. Other male composers often got more attention. However, her music has still been recorded by famous musicians like Angela Hewitt and Glenn Gould.

In 2012, people celebrated Barbara Pentland's 100th birthday with concerts and a new performance of her opera, The Lake. A recording of her piano music called Toccata was also released.

Barbara Pentland was an early member of the Canadian Music Centre. This organization helps people find and listen to her music. Her important papers and scores are kept at Library and Archives Canada.

For her amazing contributions, Barbara Pentland was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1989. This is one of Canada's highest honors. She also became a Member of the Order of British Columbia in 1993.

Cool Music She Wrote

Here are some of Barbara Pentland's well-known pieces:

• Studies in Line (1941)
• Symphony No. 2 (1950)
• Duo for Viola and Piano (1960)
• Variations for Viola Solo (1965)
• Disasters of the Sun (1976)