Ernest MacMillan
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Sir Ernest Alexander Campbell MacMillan, CC (August 18, 1893 – May 6, 1973) was an internationally renowned Canadian orchestral conductor and composer. His notoriety for choosing slow tempos when conducting earned him the affectionate name "Lord Largo".
MacMillan was born in Mimico, Ontario, the son of Mimico's Presbyterian Church Minister, Alexander MacMillan. A child prodigy, he gave his first organ recital at the age of ten. After studying in London at the Royal College of Organists, he studied modern history at the University of Toronto from 1911 to 1914. From 1926 to 1942 he was principal of the Toronto Conservatory of Music, later to become the Royal Conservatory of Music. He was a conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra between 1931 and 1956. During the Centennial of the City of Toronto, in 1934, McMillan was the chairman of the Music and Pagentry Committee. For years, he served as organist of the Timothy Eaton Memorial Church. For his 'services to music in Canada', he was knighted in 1935 by King George V. In 1969 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada. His Order of Canada investiture marked the first time the award had been made in a private ceremony as his health did not allow him to travel to Ottawa. He died in Toronto in 1973.
MacMillan was noted for his efforts in recording and preserving the traditional songs and music of Canada's aboriginal or First Nations people.
[edit] Prisoner in Germany
During World War I he was interned at Ruhleben, a civilian detention camp in Germany. MacMillan was in Germany attending the Bayreuth Festival when the war broke out. He subsequently became a prominent member of the Ruhleben Musical Society and directed performances of Mikado and a pantomime version of Cinderella. MacMillan transcribed the music for the former from memory with the help of four other musicians. Among those who attended these performances were James Gerard, the United States ambassador. MacMillan was also a member of the Ruhleben Drama Society and acted in productions of Othello, Twelfth Night and The Importance of Being Earnest.
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