Maurice Decelles

Decelles, Maurice

Maurice (Duclos) Decelles. Clarinetist, oboist, bandmaster, teacher, composer, b Trois-Rivières, Que, 11 Oct 1905, d Quebec City, 29 Jul 1979. After studies in music and literature 1918-23 at the Académie de La Salle at Trois-Rivières he played in a theatre orchestra for a year and then took a position with Bell Canada. He remained with that company for 40 years. He was transferred to Quebec City in 1928 and joined the Quebec Symphony Orchestra as principal clarinet in 1929, but in fact served until 1939 as oboist. Decelles also conducted a number of cadet and student bands and taught clarinet 1928-30 at the Académie commerciale and 1942-63 at the CMQ. His pupils included Pierre Bourque and Jacques Simard. He has composed many works for band (some listed in the Catalogue of Canadian Composers). Two have been published by Waterloo and Ssix, based on French-Canadian folk tunes, have been published by Canadian Music Sales and recorded under the composer's direction by the Howard Cable Concert Band. DeCelles was associate executive director 1965-8 of the Canadian Folk Arts Council.