His Youth

Born Joseph-Arthur-Adonaï Champagne on May 27, 1891, in Montréal, he later adopts the given name Claude, because of his admiration for Claude Debussy.

His paternal grandfather, Joseph Desparois (known as Champagne), was a wheelwright by trade and a fiddler.

Claude Champagne recalls:
"I was very fond of his jigs and other dance tunes, and spent whole afternoons listening to him play.  They tell me that I found two little sticks and tried to catch the rhythm of his pieces.  So much for a very early experience."
Claude Champagne, "Documentary Prepared by Andrée Desautels," Anthology of Canadian Music:  Claude Champagne.  Radio Canada International, ACM 30, 1988, p. 23.

His maternal grandmother was Irish.  According to Claude Champagne, although he never knew her, "it seems she had a rather poetic side to her nature, something of an imaginative dreamer."
Claude Champagne, "Documentary Prepared by Andrée Desautels," Anthology of Canadian Music:  Claude Champagne.  Radio Canada International, ACM 30, 1988, p. 23.

Claude Champagne relates: "My mother had inherited a bit of those qualities, quite different from my father, who was a very exuberant man, whereas my mother was introspective and liked to meditate and daydream."
Claude Champagne, "Documentary Prepared by Andrée Desautels," Anthology of Canadian Music:  Claude Champagne.  Radio Canada International, ACM 30, 1988, p. 23.

He describes family evenings as being "quite the habit at the time:"
"We'd get together on the Saturday or Sunday evening, at an aunt or uncle's place.  Everyone contributed his or her performance, singing or playing the violin or piano or some other instrument, and we often put on little plays.  Because, I must say, in that family, the Champagne family, everyone loved the arts, especially theatre."
Claude Champagne, "Documentary Prepared by Andrée Desautels," Anthology of Canadian Music:  Claude Champagne.  Radio Canada International, ACM 30, 1988, p. 23.

Photographic portrait of Claude Champagne at age four.
[1895], photographer:  Rousseau & Joron.
(1972-11/K)

Senior level diploma (piano) from the Dominion College of Music, June 25, 1908.
(1972-11/A2,2)

Photographic half-length portrait of Claude Champagne at age eighteen.
[1909], photographer: L. Côté.
(1972-11/K)

Diploma with honours (piano) from the National Conservatory Ltd. of Montreal, June 25, 1909.
Courtesy of the École de musique Vincent-d'Indy, Outremont, Quebec.

Claude Champagne (2nd row, 4th from the right) played saxophone for seven years (ca. 1913-1920) with the Regimental Band of the Canadian Grenadier Guards.  He composed La Ballade des lutins for this group in 1914.  n.d., photographer unknown.  (1972-11/K)

Portrait of Claude Champagne by Émile Vézina (1876-1942).  Oil on canvas.  1915.
78 X 106.5 cm.
Courtesy of the Champagne family.