Paul Pratt

Pratt, Paul

Paul Pratt. Clarinetist, pianist, conductor, teacher, composer, public administrator, b Longueuil, near Montreal, 25 Nov 1894, d there 8 May 1967; lauréat clarinet (Cons national) 1912. He studied piano in Longueuil and later with Orpha-F. Deveaux and Arthur Letondal in Montreal. He also studied clarinet with François Héraly. In 1913 he taught piano and clarinet at the Collège de Longueuil, where he conducted the orchestra and band until 1920. He was bandmaster and conductor of the orchestra of the Longueuil Concert Society, as well as a solfège teacher for the Société St-Jean-Baptiste. A member 1916-17 of the Symphonie Dubois and 1919-39 of the Canadian Grenadier Guards Band of Montreal, he played bass clarinet 1931-41 in the Montreal Orchestra and contrabass clarinet 1935-46 in the CSM orchestra. He played also with the Little Symphony of Montreal and with the Van der Meerschen band in St-Lambert.

As mayor of Longueuil 1935-66 Pratt was decorated by George V in 1935 and George VI in 1939 for his activities in the War Campaign. He was president 1956-7 of the Quebec and Ontario Divisions of the CBA. He was music director of the South Shore Band of Longueuil, the Gais Longueuillois Quartet, and, 1950-67, the Metropolitan Concert Band of Montreal. Among his compositions are marches, waltzes, a Fantaisie-Impromptu for band, and some piano pieces.