A HISTORY OF THE LADIES’ MORNING MUSICAL CLUB

The Ladies’ Morning Musical Club is the only continuously operating organization of its kind in North America, having presented concerts in Montreal for more than one hundred and thirty consecutive years. It was born from the enthusiasm of a group of amateurs who met in each other’s drawing rooms once a week, on Thursday mornings, to make music. This initiative stirred up such keen interest among the friends of the players, that many asked to be allowed to listen. To meet this request, the Club was founded in 1892 by Miss Mary Bell, with Mrs. Elmenhorst as Vice President, and a committee which consisted of Mrs. Archie Parker, Mrs. E.A. Baynes, Miss Sise, Miss Galt, Miss Baker and Miss Abbott. The growing thirst for music in Montreal at that time created an atmosphere which was highly conducive to the founding of such a club. Opportunities of hearing great performances were rare, apart from the occasional celebrity concert, and it was some years before a regular symphony orchestra made its appearance.

At its inception, the aims of the Club were largely educational, the Constitution stating that its object was ‘the practical development of musical talent and knowledge’. To this end concerts and lectures were given by active members and local professionals, who directed and encouraged both the LMMC choral group and the chamber music players; through their contacts much new music was introduced. The quality of programmes has always been given great attention. It is probable that the first performances in Montreal of Ravel’s songs, and the Debussy and Fauré quartets, were given at the Club. Nor have Canadian composers been ignored.

During the 1892-93 season approximately 20 concerts were organized. Recitals were often restricted to the music of one composer, as was the all-Grieg opening concert in 1892 and the all-Brahms programme in 1902, e.g., featuring Miss Pauline Lightstone, later known as Pauline Donalda. An active interest was taken in music students, a scholarship programme being created in 1907 to help them financially. In the early days free music tuition was given at settlement houses (inner city community centres) and a song book was sponsored for the Boy Scouts. Special memorials in the name of the founder, Miss Mary Bell, and of Madame Cécile Léger (three times president) and the Kerry-Lindsay Prize, supported by Sir George Lindsay, contributed largely to the Club’s ability to help young artists.

Due to the lack of concert halls in Montreal, the Club has frequently been obliged to move, first from the drawing rooms of members to the Y.M.C.A., and in 1918, to the ballroom of the Ritz Carlton Hotel. In 1957 construction forced the concerts to move to L’Ermitage for one season and back to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel until 1966; then to the Comédie Canadienne. In 1970, further complications necessitated a season at the Mount Royal Hotel before the concerts settled at Place des Arts, first at the Théâtre Port Royal (now Théâtre Jean-Duceppe), then to the Théâtre Maisonneuve. In 1983, the Club moved to its present home at Pollack Hall, part of McGill University’s Faculty of Music.

A special series of all the Shostakovich quartets was presented at Pollack Hall prior to the 1980 season to great acclaim. This was in the tradition of the Club which has always been willing to face challenges. In 1895, when it was learned that the great Belgian violinist, Eugène Ysaÿe, was touring America and had no engagement in Montreal, the ‘Ladies’ undertook the responsibility of presenting him at the Monument-National in his Canadian debut. The concert, a public one, was sold out. Encouraged by such success, the Kniesel Quartet was then engaged to present the first of its eleven concerts for the Club in 1896. This established the important role that chamber ensembles have played in the history of the LMMC.

Since the thirties the series has been fully professional, presenting many young and relatively unknown artists, who have become world renowned. In 1940 the concert time was changed to Thursday afternoon and in 1981 to Sunday afternoon. In 1969 the Club first permitted ‘gentleman guests’ to be invited to the concerts; for many years now the Club has been open to all music lovers on a subscription or single-ticket basis. The membership reflects the multicultural nature of Montreal: its common language is music.

The Club is a not-for-profit association run by volunteers, and for many years it was self-supporting. It is now the grateful recipient of a grant from the Conseil des arts de Montréal, and donations from generous sponsors and friends. For several years collaboration with the CBC enabled many concerts to be broadcast to a larger audience.

The Club continues its pursuit of excellence, at accessible prices for all music lovers, presenting the finest music by the finest artists available for the enjoyment and edification of all.