Moïse Saucier

Saucier, Moïse

Moïse Saucier. Pianist, organist, teacher, b Montreal October? 1840, d there 24 Aug 1912. He took piano lessons from Paul Letondal and went ca 1865 to Paris to study with Camille Stamaty (piano) and Laurent (harmony). In its first issue, 1 Sep 1866, Le Canada musical mentioned his return. The next issue (1 October) reported, 'We are strongly convinced that Montreal has a real Canadian artist at last ... Just back from Paris, Mr Saucier exhibits aplomb, an attack remarkable for its precision and security, a technique that is tidy, brilliant, and vigorous, and a touch that is perfectly even.' According to the same review Saucier's repertoire consisted of 'Thalberg's grandiose fantasies, Weber's lighthearted rondos, Chopin's imaginative scherzos, Beethoven's classical sonatas, Gottschalk's enchanting inspirations, Stamaty's pleasant transcriptions; no school, no genre is excluded; the artist is familiar with them all.' Saucier was one of the first members ca 1871-2 of the AMQ. He was the organist at various Montreal churches, including St-Joseph where he served for 25 years. Marie-Thérèse Brazeau and Euphémie Coderre were among his pupils.

See also Joseph Saucier (his son) and Marcel Saucier (his great-nephew).