Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1955-2014 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
0.5 m of textual records and other materials
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Mary Elizabeth Gardiner (nee Rutherford) was a composer, pianist, and music and English teacher based in Toronto, Ontario. She received her her ARCT in Piano Performance (1953) and Bachelor of Arts Honours (Music) degree from the University of Toronto (1954), where she studied piano with Elsie Bennett. After teaching secondary school music and English for a number of years, she stopped to pursue a musical career as a recitalist, accompanist, private music teacher, and composer.
At this time, she studied composition with Samuel Dolin (1975-1979). Her compositions include a piano concerto and music for solo piano, voice and piano, and various chamber ensembles. She received the inaugural Calgary Art Song Prize for her piece "A Spider's Story."
Gardiner was a founding member and President of the Association of Canadian Women Composers. She also served as President of the Alliance for Canadian New Music Projects, was on the Council of the Ontario Region and National Board of the Canadian Music Centre (CMC), and was a member of the Ontario Music Teachers' Association.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated by Eva Michalak (A2025-07).
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Fonds consists of manuscript scores, programs, and recordings of compositions and arrangements by Mary Gardiner, as well as biographical material about Gardiner.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Fonds arranged in three series by type of material: (A) Compositions and arrangements; (B) Recordings of the music of Mary Gardiner; (C) Biographical material.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Also see select published items from Mary Gardiner's library, some of which previously belonged to her piano teacher Elsie M. Bennett.
- The Etude : music magazine [musi A-2 09]
- In the choir of Westminster Abbey : a story of Henry Purcell days by Mrs. Marshall [musi E-12 455]
- The Waltz by Mosco Carner [musi E-12 456]
- Sonatas for the pianoforte by Ludwig van Beethoven [musi F-10 463].
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Bennett, Elsie (Subject)