He was a leading authority in Canadian enthnomusicology, and his research and publications in that field had a profound impact on the folk music revival in Canada of the mid to late 20th century.
In 1941 he entered the University of Toronto where he studied music theory with Healey Willan and Leo Smith.
After earning a Bachelor of Music in 1943, he continued with graduate studies in composition at the UT with John Weinzweig from 1944 to 1946.
He moved to Boston the following autumn to study composition with Francis Judd Cooke at the New England Conservatory.
He wrote many articles for a variety of musical periodicals during his career, in addition to having work published through the Museum of Civilization.