It is with great sadness that we report that Professor Emeritus Paul M. Douglas has passed away on December 31st, in Cranbrook BC.

Paul Douglas moved to Cranbrook sometime after retiring from the UBC School of Music in the early 1990s and had enjoyed the cleaner, quieter, natural environment of the Kootenay’s. There he became involved in music making in the community and continued composing and editing works.

The UBC School of Music invites alumni, colleagues and others to share memories and thoughts about Paul Douglas and his life contributions.  We will post messages on this website.

Please send messages to laurie.townsend(at)ubc.ca

March 11, 2011 - UBC Lowers Flag in Honour of Paul Douglas

The BC Flag (Main Mall and Agronomy Road) will be lowered today, Friday March 11, 2011, to mark the passing of Professor Emeritus Paul M. Douglas.
 
Douglas, Paul Marshall, Professor Emeritus of Woodwinds, passed away on December 31, 2010.  Mr. Douglas worked at UBC for 26 years.  There will be a memorial service held on March 12, 2011, at 10:00 am in Cranbrook, B.C. at Mc Pherson’s Funeral Home.  A memorial concert will be held on March 13, 2011, at 8:00 pm at the UBC School of Music Recital Hall.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Paul M. Douglas Memorial Scholarship in Music, a scholarship fund supporting woodwind students at the UBC School of Music.

Paul Douglas Memorial Concert

Sunday, March 13
8 pm | Roy Barnett Recital Hall, UBC Music Building

This concert honouring Paul Douglas, will feature UBC's own Nachschlag Wind Quintet, Brenda Fedoruk and Mark McGregor flute, Michael Murray piano and organ, Jesse Read bassoon and Martin Berinbaum trumpet.

Music featured will include a number of works by Paul Douglas (including his wind quintet, Foybeblas, and a number of pieces for solo winds), as well as music by composers who were dear to him: J.S. Bach, Joseph Boismortier, G.F. Handel and Friedrich Kuhlau.

Please forward this e-mail to others who knew Paul Douglas as our alumni list is incomplete.

Article in Globe and Mail

23 March 2011
By Alan Hustak

Paul Marshall Douglas was a classical composer who played the flute, an early leader of Vancouver's Baroque music scene and a teacher at the University of British Columbia for 26 years.

Douglas, who died in Cranbrook, B.C., on Dec. 31 at the age of 74, conducted the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra for four years in the 1970s, was a founding member of the Vancouver Baroque Ensemble and a 2001 Juno Award nominee.

"He was well rounded, a musician, a composer, a conductor, he had a background in all this stuff that added richness to the teaching program," said Jesse Read, former director of UBC's school of music, who is also a former conductor of the Vancouver Philharmonic. "He was a good conductor who was not only interested in his own area of expertise but in all symphonic expression. He wanted to explore. He took a burgeoning community orchestra and pulled it all together. He was extremely passionate, positive and supportive. He touched a lot of his students."

Read more

Short Biography

Paul Douglas came to the Department of Music, as it was known then, at UBC in 1964 and served in various teaching and conducting capacities for nearly 30 years. Many will immediately connect Douglas with teaching and performing the flute, both modern and baroque. His interests and artistry in the service of music extended much further to span composition of many works, scholarly writing including a scholarly edition of Hottetere’s Principes de la Flute Traversiere - 1707, and conducting. He was also a continuous recruiter of music-makers at every level. He encouraged many to play and facilitated introductions creating duet partners, chamber groups. He also invited instrumentalists inside the full orchestral experience in the years he conducted the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, several UBC MUSSOC productions, and other ensembles.

At UBC, Professor Douglas taught Music History, Chamber Music, Woodwind Techniques, Conducting, Flute and Baroque Flute, was Director of Bands and Wind Ensembles and Coordinator of the Wind, Brass and Percussion Division.

Paul Douglas’s life journey to Vancouver and UBC was exotic and rich. He was born in 1936 in Constantine, Algeria, of American missionary parents. There was a move to France where he began composing while completing his high school education; his first compositions were performed at the Collège Cévenole in the Auvergne region. He continued to develop as a composer through his undergraduate years where he studied in Missouri, USA and then during graduate studies in Hartford, Conneticut.

After working as a high school music teacher in Missouri, Douglas pursued a Masters degree in music history, switching to flute performance in order to study with French masters Louis and Marcel Moyse. His first university appointment was at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. It is from there that he came to Vancouver and UBC in 1964. In 1967, Douglas became a founding member of the Vancouver Baroque Ensemble and from 1972-76 he was Musical Director and Conductor of the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra and Vancouver Camerata. Douglas was actively involved in both composition and music editing. Many of his works have been performed and published with many of his editions of 18th century chamber music published both in Canada and abroad. He also became an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre, where scores and parts of several of his works are available. Helvetia, a recording of some of his orchestra music was released and is available on CD from the Skylark label.

If you would like to send a memory or other message to be posted to this page, please e-mail Laurie Townsend at laurie.townsend(at)ubc.ca

Memories & Messages from Colleagues, Students and Friends

From Professor Jesse Read, Co-Head Wind, Brass and Percussion Division, UBC School of Music
When I arrived at UBC in the early 90s, Paul welcomed me warmly, as we had met some years before when I performed at UBC with the Pacific Wind Quintet and Paul was our host. We found that we had much in common as wind players; an interest in Baroque music, (his translation and annotated version of Jacques-Martin Hotteterre's Principles of the Flute-Dover, 1968, remains the best of several versions), we shared the same publisher of our editions of 18th-Century wind music, and both of us had lived and studied in Switzerland.  Paul was the only other full-time woodwind faculty member in the School at the time, and was dearly beloved by a wide circle of students.  He was admired for his recordings, and he had established a regular series of recitals of flute music that was highly regarded, no surprise, as he had studied with the great master flautist Marcel Moyse.  Paul was a prolific composer who wrote for nearly every wind instrument in solo and ensemble combinations.  In addition, he was a successful orchestra composer.  His disc Helvetia which included three large-scale symphonic works recorded by the Radio Symphony Orchestra of Pilsen, Czech Republic, was released on the Skylark label.  I will always remember Paul as an ideal colleague, kind, generous, ever curious and willing to share his experience and knowledge freely.  He was a friend and mentor to many.

From Professor Emeritus Martin Berinbaum
Paul Douglas was my immediate predecessor as band director at UBC. He oversaw the whole wind program for over 20 years as the only full time Wind Instrument teacher. Under his guidance the band library collected all the major 20th Century concert band repertory and when I arrived in 1976 we had a plethora of material to present to students. Paul was always supportive of all initiatives that would add substance to the wind programmes at UBC. He composed many excellent works for the band and I am happy to see these opus represented in the Canadian Band Repertory journals. Paul was an excellent flute teacher and a wonderful performer. My office was next to his and because the sound proofing in our building was designed to allow each teacher the opportunity to hear what the other teachers were playing, I was always amazed by how well he and his students performed. (I am sure having a trumpet teacher next to him gave him pause on a few occasions also but he never complained about all the noise). He was always very patient and his beautiful performances on both Baroque flute and modern flute were inspirational. His students were truly blessed with a teacher with deep style and grace.  His record collection was legendary.  Paul Douglas was a "pioneer"  in the School of Music at UBC and one of the true pillars that supported and gave great meaning and substance to that which has come after. He was a wonderful friend and colleague and mentor and musician.

From Alumnus Andrew Wilson
I was sad to hear of Professor Douglas's death. I graduated with a BMus in 1987 (clarinet and history) and played in the Contemporary Players group. We were coached by Stephen Chapman and Paul Douglas, and we put on some great concerts if I do say so myself. Excellent coaching from both, but particularly from Professor Douglas as he was such a consummate player himself.

From Barbara Kallaur,
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music, Early Music Institute, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music

14 January 2011

It is with sadness that I write this tribute following the death of Paul Douglas, my first teacher.

In her dedication statement to a recording, a friend wrote, “dedicated to my two most important teachers, the first and the last”.  This rings very true to me. Paul helped set up my development which ultimately led to my further study in The Hague with my final teacher and my career as a baroque flutist.

Most importantly Paul taught me discipline.  I know from my own students that the rigors he put me through in high school are not typical today—hours upon hours of technical practice; learning to look at and analyze a score and question the editor’s choices, add my own editorial marks, and THINK. 

My path to the eighteenth-century flute came directly through him, although along a skewed path. Nevertheless, it was from him that I knew that such an instrument existed, and that I could study this, even as a stopgap elective. That emergency Third Year class turned into study abroad with the inestimable Barthold Kuijken and quickly thereafter, a career.

I see Paul’s fingerprints all the time, especially in playing duets with student. Every time I am fortunate to play Haydn “Die Schöpfung” I think of Paul, who gave me the chance to play the work for the first time in the Vancouver Camerata.

Tonight I am playing a concert of Telemann chamber music with my group, Ensemble Voltaire. The performance will be dedicated to Paul’s memory.

Sincerely,

Barbara Kallaur
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music, Early Music Institute, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
Founder, Ensemble Voltaire and The Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra

From Al Myslicki, B. Mus, UBC (1968), M.Ed, WWU (1972)

A kind, gentle, encouraging and knowledgeable prof. His name brings back so many fond memories.

From Greg Constable
Director, David Thompson Secondary School Band INVERMERE, BC
B. Mus UBC 1978

I have been the band director at David Thompson Secondary here in Invermere for almost thirty years, and ran into Paul Douglas on occasion when I visited Cranbrook, about 90 miles south but “just next door” in BC Interior language.  Although his health was failing, his personality remained unchanged from the UBC Concert Band Director I remember from the mid-1970s:  approachable, friendly, and with a sense of humour that I could easily identify with.
 
Paul was very happy living in a small city in the Kootenays, and more than once mentioned that, in addition to the cleanRocky Mountain air, he fit right in to the friendly and neighbourly community of Cranbrook.  On my last conversation with him we reminisced about the 1970s UBC Music Department (as it was known then), and he gave me a copy of his European-produced CD.  I remain the proud owner of it!
 
From Cathy McCashin

Paul Douglas was the Head of Woodwinds at UBC Music School when I attended in the mid-late '80's, as a clarinet concentration student. I came to UBC, 30 years old, little formal background and about the same amount of confidence, with the lifelong dream of obtaining a Music Degree. He was at my audition, all my juries and there when the amateur orchestra he started 48 years ago, The Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, played one of his symphonies, "Helvetia", about 15 years ago. It was my first time playing Principal clarinet and Paul was very flattering about my playing that night - he always took the time to appreciate others. Paul was ever encouraging and accepting of me. When other professors may have looked sideways at me wondering what I was doing there, Paul would gently and kindly say "Have fun up there."  He never looked down on me, inspite of my inexperienced and very nervous status, and treated me the same as any other player - he had a big heart and a human touch that were palpable even if he didn't say anything. I have never forgotten his kindness. His karma will be great as he passes and he will receive the kindness and care he gave to others I am sure. I am sad to hear of his passing. All the best to his wife and family.

From Wayne G'Froerer 
UBC Music 1965-70. 1975-77

I was a student at UBC 1965-1970 ;75-77 and was in Paul Douglas's Wind Ensembles for 5 years as well as being in chamber groups coached by him; and playing with him in the Ukrainian Folk Orchestra in East Vancouver.

Paul was a gentle, kind and good natured person who took very personal interest in all of his students and colleagues. His status as a band conductor was established through his initial and ongoing leader of the UBC Wind Ensemble.Through his leadership we were introduced to much of the great band literature and we were challenged each late Friday afternoons, in the great "old Music Building", in his rehearsals with a repertoire of demanding and fascinating pieces. He introduced us to many of the American classics, as well as European, spiced up with his love of French music.  He established a reputation as leader of one of the better university Wind Ensembles in the Western Canada and it was through his high standards and innate musicality that we all benefited. We have, no doubt, used his rehearsal techniques, performance preparation and concepts of technique and phrasing in our musical lives either as teachers or performers. Paul was a passionate teacher with a very solid flute performance background; a compassionate leader who listened to students; a very funny person who had a ready smile; an enthusiastic individual who talways looked at the positive; a sometimes tough conductor who didn't suffer fools or bad effort; and a very memorable character with a great podium presence. He lead a very memorable and successful Provincial UBC Wind Ensemble Tour in the late 60's, which was a highlight in our young careers.

I hope you may share some of these thoughts with any old Alumni and pass on this email with my thoughts to his wife. His memory and presence will always remain in my thoughts and his influence, now that I am reflecting looking back over my teaching/playing career, has been greater than I realised.

 I am saddened by his death. The musical world has lost a wonderful teacher/musician/ advocate/person.
 

From Barry Moore
Accompanist, Lockwood Ensemble
I am the pianist for the Lockwood Ensemble of Edgewater, a village in the Upper Columbia valley of the East Kootenays where Paul Douglas settled. Our flautist, Sharon Morgan, met Paul and studied flute with him while she was playing for the Symphony of the Rockies. As a result of this fortunate meeting, our Quartette enjoyed Paul's beneficence - he wrote and arranged several pieces for the Lockwood Quartet of the day and some for me as a pianist. Conversations with Paul were like panoramic windows into the world of music, connecting the residents of a tiny hamlet with a great and vital tradition. Thank you for honouring Paul with this memorial concert - I had not even heard of Paul's passing, this place is so remote from the centres of position and power. Nonetheless we have been gifted with original compositions from one of the pioneers of music in BC.