Ernest MacMillan

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Sir Ernest Alexander Campbell MacMillan CC (August 18, 1893; died May 6, 1973) was an internationally renowned Canadian orchestrial conductor and composer. His notoriety for choosing slow tempos when conducting earned him the affectionate name "Lord Largo".

MacMillan was born in Mimico, Ontario. 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. In 1969 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada. 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. It was for this reason that he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

[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 Ruhleban 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 Ruhleban Drama Society and acted in productions of Othello, Twelfth Night and The Importance of Being Earnest.