Harold St. Nicholas Cartier
   This page is somewhat different from those on the contemporary musicians. I came across Mr. Cartier while doing other research, but I have not been able to find much further information about him. I shall put on this page all the references and information that I have on him, and hope that some one, somewhere, may be able to tell us more about this gifted young Jamaican.
Was this the birth record of 'Harold Cartier'?
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Date and place of birth: Twenty second December 1885, 44 Wildman Street
Name: Harold Valencia Nathaniel
Sex: Male
Father: Andrew James Carter, 44 Wildman Street
Mother: Marianna Emmeline Carter formerly Scott
Occupation of father: Clerk
Signature: A J Carter, Father, 44 Wildman Street
Registered: Twenty-ninth December 1885
   The details of Cartier's marriage
in Toronto in 1912 appear to tally
with the details on the birth record.
Marriage Record (Canada)
Harold St Nicholas Cartier
Marriage
Date:     25 Dec 1912
Place:     Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada
Age:     27
Birth Year (Estimated): 1885
Father's Name:     James Andrew Carter
Mother's Name:     Mary E Scott
Spouse's Name:     Eloise Victoria Steele
Spouse's Age:     25
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated):     1887
Spouse's Father's Name:     Henry Steele
Spouse's Mother's Name:     Mary J Shaw
Information from Ellis Island arrival records 1906:

Arrival in New York, August 30, 1906
(left Jamaica August 25)
Name: Harold Carter
Age: 20
Male, single
Calling/Occupation: Music
Non-immigrant alien, African/Black

In Transit, to 96 John's Street, Hamilton, Ontario

It would be interesting to know who gave Cartier his start as a pianist in Jamaica!
Information from Ellis Island arrival records 1912:

Name: Harold Cartier
Occupation: Musician
Ethnicity: Jamaica, W Indian; Afr Bk [added in pencil]
Residence: Toronto, Canada
DOA: Feb. 22, 1912 (sailed from Kingston Feb. 17)
Age: 25 years [born c 1887]
Gender: M
Marital status: S
Ship: Metapan

Additional info:
Reginald Chester, 24, manager; Br. Canadian (non-immigrant alien); Returning from tour; Address: 60 Brunswick Avenue, Toronto (parents’ home)
Daily Gleaner 1912
Noted Pianist will Give Recital Here
January 8
MR. H. SAINT NICHOLAS CARTIER
   The above is a picture of Mr. H. Saint Nicholas Cartier, the distinguished pianist, who is now on a visit to Jamaica, his native land, and will give his first recital in the Collegiate Hall on Tuesday, commencing
at 3.15 o’clock.
   By popular request Mr. Cartier has reduced his prices as announced in this paper recently to 4/ reserved and 2/ back seats. The box plan is now open at Louis Winkler and Son, 18 King St. Mr. Cartier expects to appear in Port Antonio, Montego Bay and Mandeville in the near future. These dates will be announced later.

January 11
GRAND RECITAL
Mr. Saint Nicholas Cartier At Collegiate Hall.
A BRILLIANT PIANIST.
Another Recital Arranged to be Given Next Week,
   Mr. H. Saint-Nicholas Cartier, the talented pianist made his initial bow to the public of Jamaica on Tuesday night, when, to a small but appreciative gathering at the Collegiate Hall, he gave an exhibition in the art of piano-playing, which could not be surpassed, but by few men in the profession. It was quite apparent from the scanty audience that the public were unaware of the talent of the pianist, and pessimistic as to his ability. The select few who were in attendance, however, were treated to a rich musical treat, and were unanimous in their expressions of admiration at the brilliant exhibition by the master.
   The following is  a copy of the programme which was executed, each number of which was splendidly rendered and received with hearty applause.
   If any numbers on the programme might be selected as being specially deserving of mention these would be Nos. 1 and 2 in Part II. The composition by Liszt was played with such expression and brilliancy of execution, that an encore was requested and given, while the selection entitled “Saint Monica at the Bird Carnival by the Brook” brought forth the hearty applause it justly deserved.

January 18
   The manager, Mr. Chester, has announced his intention of giving a second recital, which, by popular request, has been fixed for the 18th inst. at the Collegiate Hall, the prices being the same as on Tuesday night.
January 20
GRAND RECITAL.
Second Appearance of Mr. Cartier in Kingston.
SPLENDID PROGRAMME.
Audience Was Not as Large as It Should Have Been.
   The piano recital given by Mr. H. St. Nicholas Cartier, (the great Jamaican artist, who has recently arrived from the United States), at the Collegiate Hall on Thursday night last, might well be termed a musical triumph, from an artistic point of view, but the attendance was very poor. Judging from the high standard of the programme, one could arrive at but one conclusion: that the lovers of music of thiscommunity could not have had the slightest conception of the high degree of magnificence of the sublime treat that was in store for them, otherwise, they would not have been conspicuous by their absence.
Daily Gleaner, January 18, 1912
   The great artist made his first bow for the evening, which was received by the audience with loud applause, precisely at 8.15 o’clock, and from the very start, he fairly enchanted the audience who did not fail to show their appreciation of his wonderful talent, by repeated encores. Mr. Cartier displayed a complete mastery of his profession, overcoming the technique of the different items of the programme with apparent ease. His rendition of Miserere aus Trovatore, Von Verdi Grand Concert (Paraphrase) by Franz Liszt, created a furore, and was deservedly encored.
   But the culminating point of his evening’s success was reached when Mr. Cartier struck up “St. Francis of Paola, walking on the Waves” a legend by Liszt. The marvellous pianist gave
A WONDERFUL REPRESENTATION
of the awesome moaning of the angry billows, with the occasional boom of a mighty breaker, on the bass notes, while, on the treble notes, the systematic rise and fall of each wave was vividly brought before the mind’s eye. The selection evoked an encore. Mr. Cartier excelled himself in his rendition of “St. Monica at the Bird Carnival by the Brook,” a legend by Carl Von Hesse, played by special request. In this selection, the babbling of the brook, and the confused whistling of myriad birds, were adroitly counterfeited. The artist received an ovation from his audience, in a manner which did ample justice to their small number. At the conclusion of the proceedings Mr. Cartier was fairly besieged behind the screen by grateful individuals from the audience, and many were the congratulations which he received. The recital was certainly one of the best, if not the best ever given in Jamaica.
January 25
GRAND RECITAL
   A rare treat is in store for the residents of Port Antonio, in the shape of a grand recital to be given by the marvellous artist, Mr. H. St. Nicholas Cartier, in that town on Saturday eveening, Feb. 3rd. The programme will be something above the ordinary, and as Mr. Cartier’s achievements on his favourite instrument has fairly fascinated his metropolitan audiences, we predict a bumper
house on the night of the 3rd prox.

January 27
   The piano recital to be given at Port Antonio by Mr. H. St. Nicholas Cartier, the great musician, will take place on Thursday, February 1st., instead of February 3rd as was previously stated.
February 13
RECITAL ARRANGED.
   Mr. Saint Nicholas Cartier, the noted pianist, will give a recital at Port Antonio on Friday 16th inst. Bad weather interfered with the attendance on the last occasion that the great pianist visited Port Antonio, but he is assured of a big crowd [on the 16th inst?].

February 15
MUSIC TEACHERS.
The Guild of Music Teachers held a special meeting in the Cowen Music Rooms on Monday evening, February 6th to hear the address which was delivered at special request by Dr. St. Nicholas Cartier, the talented pianist now in our midst. Mr. Astley Clerk introduced Dr. Cartier to those present. The Doctor then deiivered a very inspiring address on Interest, Enthusiasm, Unity. What membership means, the responsibility of the teacher, and then gave an able comparison of methods.
   A hearty vote of thanks was tendered the doctor for his helpful words.


[written a decade ago; some updates 2013]
   I have only found two other references to Harold Cartier - one, sadly, is that he and his wife had a little daughter, Juanita, who was born in December 1913, died November 3, 1923, and was buried three days later.

     The other is an item in The Canadian Patent Office Record and Register of Copyrights and Trade Marks, Volume 69, Issues 1-4 - Page vi, 1941
  • 52000. BRITANNIA HEROIC. Sub-title . . . . “GRAND FANTASY ON 'THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN' ”. By Harold St. Nicholas Cartier of Toronto, Ontario. Unpublished musical work. Harold Saint Nicholas Cartier and Elsie Campbell Mitchell, both of Toronto, Ont. 20th December, 1940.

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