Arthur Dumouchel

Dumouchel, Arthur

(Léandre) Arthur Dumouchel. Organist, teacher, composer, pianist, choirmaster, b Rigaud, near Montreal, 1 Mar 1841, d Albany, NY, 10 Jan 1919. Like his twin brother Édouard Dumouchel he attended the Collège Bourget and studied with his aunt, Esther Fournier (1805-74), the organist at Rigaud. He pursued his career principally in the USA. On 11 Sep 1866 he made a debut at Carthage, NY, and on 29 November he played again at the church of St James in Carthage, also conducting a mixed choir. His brother and Emma Lajeunesse (Albani) participated in this concert. According to Le Canada Musical of January 1867, 'the Dumouchel brothers' expert organ performance filled the audience with wonder'. He was in Europe 1869-72. Sources assert that in 1872 he was the first Canadian to receive a doctorate in music; however, no document corroborates this claim. His presence at the Leipzig Cons 1869-70 is confirmed by his teachers Ignaz Moscheles (piano), Friedrich Richter (theory), and Carl Reinecke (singing, chamber music). A diploma certifies that he also studied organ and piano with Robert Papperitz, who testified to his 'unpretentious technique, clear and elegant execution'. Returning to the USA in 1872, Dumouchel was organist at St Paul's Church in Oswego, at Rochester, and 1876-1919 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Albany. His Grand Magnificat in C, and his motet 'Ecce panis' - both for mixed choir - were published by Ditson ca 1875. If, as is believed, he wrote a symphony, then - with Calixa Lavallée, who also is supposed to have written one - he was one of the first Canadians to do so.