Calixa Lavallée

O Canada. Music: Calixa Lavalée; Lyrics: Robert Stanley Weir.

Considered to be the first Canadian musician to win fame, Calixa Lavallée (1842–91) is the composer of Canada's national anthem. The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC) recognized his national historic importance in 1966.

Born at Verchères, Lavallée made a remarkable contribution to the development and international recognition of Canadian music. At a very young age he mastered several musical instruments, including the piano, organ, cornet and violin. After studying in Montréal, he left at the age of 15 for the United States, where he won a competition and was hired for a tour of South America, the Caribbean and Mexico. Returning to the United States, he became a member of a military band, joined the army and fought in the U.S. Civil War. Wounded and discharged in 1862, he then taught and performed in Québec City, Montréal and numerous U.S. cities. In 1870 he was named musical director of New York's Grand Opera House (now the Metropolitan Opera), and a few years later he went to study in France. He lived in Canada from 1875 to 1880, giving recitals that were applauded as genuine triumphs, and he was acclaimed the country's national musician.

Lavallée is also known for composing the music for O Canada. He did this for the Convention nationale des Canadiens français – a gathering held in Québec City in June 1880, attended by delegates from 112 associations. The words for "Canada's national hymn" were written for the occasion by Judge Adolphe-Basile Routhier, and Lavallée set them to music. From its first performance on June 24, 1880, the composition was a decided success. The words were translated into English in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir. Although O Canada was approved by Parliament in 1967, it did not officially become Canada's national anthem until July 1, 1980.