Eric Abbott

Eric (Oscar) Abbott. Bandmaster, cornetist, pianist, organist, composer, arranger, b St John's, Nfld, 4 Aug 1929, d there 9 Feb 1988; ATCL 1949, LTCL 1950, L MUS (Acadia) 1951, B MUS (Acadia) 1952, L MUS TCL 1955, M MUS (Acadia) 1956, D ED (Boston) 1969, FTCL 1970. His teachers included Edwin Collins, Janis Kalejs, Hugo Norden, and Gardner Read. His doctoral thesis was "The evolution of the Canadian festival movement as an instrument of music education." He began teaching music in St John's schools in 1948 and became band director for the Avalon Consolidated School Board in 1968. His broadcasting career, which began in 1949, has included several hundred piano, organ, and cornet recitals. He was choral arranger and conductor for eight years on CBC radio's "Come All Ye Round" and music director 1960-2 for CJON radio and CJOX-TV, St John's. He led Salvation Army bands in St John's and in Massachusetts and became director of the Booth Memorial Brass Band in 1968. In 1983 the onset of Ménière's disease forced him to retire from full-time teaching, but he maintained his position as instructor with the Salvation Army Training College, the Elim Pentecostal Tabernacle and the Salvation Army Cadet's Band. He also continued to teach privately and conduct the Silver Chords, a senior's choir. His compositions include the choral fugues Exalt the Lord (Boston Music 1962) and Alleluia (Boston Music 1964), the marches Invitation (1963) and St John's Citadel (1977) published by the Salvation Army, the cornet solo Supplication (1977, Eastern Territory Music Bureau), other brass band works (including one based on Canadian folk songs), three overtures for orchestra, two double fugues for solo violin and string orchestra, a sonatina for violin and piano, and anthems.