Serge Garant

Serge Garant (1929-1986) was a Quebec composer, conductor and pianist, born in Quebec City. After lessons with Olivier Messiaen in Paris in the early 1950s he worked as a committed serial composer. He co-founded the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec and directed it for twenty years. Garant's Nucléogame (1955) is described as the first Canadian work to combine instruments and magnetic tape, and Anerca (1961) established his reputation. He led the SMCQ from 1966 until his death, conducting it in Montreal and at the Royan festival.