WHAT a weekend!!!

March 23, 2010 | Write a Comment

If your ears are full, and you feel inspired, uplifted and connected to the community, then you must have been at Water’s Edge festival March 19-21.  From the opening notes sung by a cappella vocal quartet Night Street, to the final performance featuring the 75 voices of Coastal Sound Youth Choir and musica intima together, the goose bumps and “ooooh” moments where frequent.  So many highlights:  Brian Tate had the floor boards a shakin’ with a packed room of singers who’d dropped into to his gospel experience workshop; emerging talent and established singer/songwriters shared songs and stories and rocked it out at times, for an appreciative crowd at the SASS-BC singer/ songwriter café; the All- Canadian Guitar Jam was a place where all abilities were hummin’ and strummin’; every studio space featured artists inspiring people of all ages to engage in art making- lanterns, artist trading cards, clay sculptures…
Then there were the main stage shows that exceeded expectations!  Elektra sang with stunning beauty, clarity and audience connection, musica intima was exquisite and precise, and Brad Turner’s suite especially composed for the festival, turned out to be a work of epic proportions, loved by the sold out house.  Some surprises for audiences: Coastal Sound Youth Choir was a wonderful compliment and pairing with musica intima; the 65 youngsters from Coastal Sound’s beginning choirs who had the 3 cameos in Turner’s work, rose to the occasion and obviously gave the professionals on stage a charge with their singing from all around the balconies of the theatre.  Susan Hodgins, who attended last year’s festival and attended all weekend this year with her husband, said “We feel like we’re away on vacation, with so much to see and do and hear… it’s so much fun going from one thing to another!”

A number of festival-goers were live tweeting and updating about their experiences, offering a play by play: (pardon the pun) “George and Vincent are improvising a piano duet made up from 5 random notes.  Crazy talented!”

Diana Clark, Artistic Director for the festival as well as Coastal Sound Music Academy, heard from many participants that they appreciated the high quality experiences that Water’s Edge festival offered.  Clark is thrilled that a music and art festival like the kinds she and her fellow musicians attend in big cities, is starting in Coquitlam.  “None of this would have been possible without the tremendous financial support and belief in the value of this festival, that Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad provided us the past two years.”

Evergreen Cultural Centre proved once again to be a great space for a festival of this kind, because multiple events can be held at once, with the spaces so defined and separate one event doesn’t spill into another.  The fairy-winged face painters sitting on the lakeside terrace making fanciful swirls on children’s faces liked the location for the festival too!

Visit the photo gallery to get a sense of the fun that was had by all: http://watersedgemusic.shutterfly.com/

Water’s Edge festival was successful thanks to the enthusiastic volunteers from Evergreen and Coastal Sound, as well as the concert goers and event participants who came out to the festival this year.  From all of us at Water’s Edge, thank you!!!

Tags: Waters Edge Festival

Inspired by life…

March 18, 2010 | Write a Comment

Brad Turner gives listeners some background about his new multi-movement work for jazz septet and children’s choir.  Be sure to catch the world premiere this Saturday, March 21 at Evergreen Cultural Centre!

Introduction / “Hopes and Dreams” –  We all have people to thank for where we are in our lives. I know that without the love and support of my parents and my family, I wouldn’t be here to present this music to you all.

This is just a little musical ‘thank you’ from all of us to the folks who have been there for us from the beginning.

On The River – When I was nine years old, my Grandpa on my Mom’s side, Jarle Olsen, took me out on his fishing boat, on the Fraser river. He was working as a ‘collector’ then, meaning he would collect the catches from other fishermen’s boats, load them in the hold below, and take them to the cannery in Steveston, which is what we did. It was an overnight trip, and I got to sleep in the top bunk in the cabin. In the morning, I had my first cup of coffee (with vanilla ice cream in it!) and Grandpa’s deck hand showed me how to tie some knots while we made our way down river to Steveston. I’ll never forget the experience, particularly traveling underneath both the Port Mann and Pattullo bridges; it was a revelation to me at the time that one could go UNDER a bridge…

Main and Hastings – We live in and around the most beautiful city on the planet, but there is a flip side;  it can be found in the downtown east side, where despair and hopelessness are everywhere to be seen. At the same time, such human tragedy can lead to the most profound stories of triumph and redemption. Both ends of the spectrum exist there, out in the open, twenty-four, seven.

Porteau Cove –  I wrote this piece camping at Porteau Cove, in my wife’s parents’ trailer. As a family, we had camped there before, and I fell in love with the spot. The music reflects, to some degree, the natural environment there; rolling surf, sea birds, clouds sailing by… and of course, rain!

“Suitcase” Smith – Since the early ’70′s, when I started listening to Canucks games on the radio with my Dad, and watching them with him when they were on Hockey Night in Canada, I have been an ardent fan of the home team, through thick and thin. Mostly thin.  As a kid, I had a number of favorite players, and at the top of the list for a while was Gary “Suitcase” Smith, a big, flamboyant guy who played goal. He had a number of interesting habits, including punting the puck the length of the ice with the toe of his skate, stick-handling past centre on occasion, and wearing full length fur coats to the rink. Apparently he earned the nickname ‘Suitcase’ because of the fact that he had played for so many teams before he came to the Canucks… this tune is for him, and for my Dad who still is a huge fan of the team.

Gratitude – This one is in tribute to all of the great musicians that I have had the privilege to perform with, most notably the fellows I am on stage with tonight, who have taken the time to prepare this music so well for you all to enjoy. Thanks boys!

Maymont Belle – Eliza Merle Mawhinney, my Grandma on my Dad’s side, hailed from Maymont, a tiny village in Saskatchewan. It is the kind of place, that when making the trip from Edmonton to Saskatoon, if one’s attention wanders for a split instance (and how could that possibly happen on such an engaging and scenically varied route) one would certainly miss it.  It happened to me, and when it did, I made the guys in the band (not this band, a different one) turn the van around so I could have a look. It didn’t take long. Regardless, my Grandma was a real looker in her day, and Grandpa Fred fell for her hook line and sinker. This is for her.

3724 McGill – Since I left my parent’s place and went to college after graduating from high school , I have lived in a total of 14 different houses, basement suites, and or apartments. Such is the story of most artists -

we tend to be a touch nomadic. The house at 3724 McGill street in North Burnaby, was number eleven, and although it has long since been torn down and replaced, it remains the most storied of all of them.

That is the house where Tia (who is now my wife) first walked through the door, prompting me to pronounce to my roommate, with much bravado and ridiculously inflated self-confidence “I’m going to marry her”.  In spite of my obvious lack of intelligence and general density, Tia felt sorry for me and married me anyway. This is for her, and also reminiscent of the great times we all had in that house.



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Elektra’s Program Preview

March 14, 2010 | Write a Comment

One of the world’s finest women’s choirs will be making a rare performance in Coquitlam in just a few days.  Here is a sneak peek at what will be performed Friday night!  Book your great seats NOW and take advantage of early bird pricing.

It’s a Grand Night for Singing Rodgers and Hammerstein, arr. Stephen Smith.
We start our program with this breezy chestnut from the musical “State Fair”, arranged and sung as a special present for Diane Loomer on her retirement from Elektra in May.

Music for a While Henry Purcell, arr. Gunnar Eriksson
One of the most famous and beautiful melodies of the baroque, this song says that the power of music can make us healthy and whole.  Composed in 1692 as incidental music to John Dryden’s Greek mythology-based play “Oedipus”, Music for a While is sung to calm Alecto, one of the Furies, through the sheer power of music.  If the snakes can drop from her head (her mind be cleared), and the whip from her hand (her rage subsided), Alecto has the power to solve the mystery surrounding King Laius’ untimely death.

Ave Maria David MacIntyre
Ave Maria is known as one of Elektra’s ‘signature pieces’.  Composer David MacIntyre wrote it when he heard about young girls in Bosnia/Herzegovina running to the hills to see visions of the Virgin Mary.  Since its premiere by Elektra in 1995 as part of the Canadian Music Centre’s 35th Anniversary celebrations, this stunning, energetic, and joyous piece has been sung by countless women’s choirs throughout the world.  An exhilarating memory of this piece with Elektra?  Performing it on the Sydney Opera House stage in 1996.

Da Pacem / Dona Nobis Pacem Jeffrey Enns / Ko Matsushita
Elektra sings a plea for peace in these two diverse works written by Canadian Jeffrey Enns and Japanese composer Ko Matsushita.  Both sung in Latin, the first says “Give peace in our time, O Lord”, and the latter uses the traditional “Dona Nobis Pacem” (give us peace) in a robust and joyous setting for three choirs.  Matsushita’s piece was performed by the massed treble choirs of the 2009 Coastal Sound International Choral Festival.

Scarborough Fair traditional English, arr. Stephen Smith
One of England’s most famous folk songs, this lovely arrangement by our accompanist, Stephen Smith, is the opening track on Elektra’s latest CD and is receiving lots of airplay on CBC Radio and Seattle’s King FM.

what i want poem by Pat Lowther, music by Stephen Smith
Pat Lowther was one of Canada’s most celebrated poets in the 60s and 70s and taught creative writing at UBC.  Her personal life, however, was weighed down by poverty, unhappiness, and a destructive marriage.  In 1975, at the age of 40, Lowther was murdered by her husband.  “what i want” was one of the poems she was working on at the time of her death – a simple plea for light, space, love, and blessing.  This beautiful, original setting of Pat Lowther’s poem by Stephen Smith has been sung by many women’s choirs, including at events speaking out against violence against women.

Early Spring trad. Newfoundland folk song, arr. Kathleen Allan
With its shifting perspectives of time, this beautiful a cappella arrangement by Newfoundland composer Kathleen Allan evokes first the happiness of a young bride and then her confusion and despair when her husband is lost at sea.

Trinque l’amourette traditional Quebecois, arr. Guy Isabelle
The choir takes a trip to Quebec with this lively song made famous by the Quebec folk group, La Bottine Souriante. The story goes that our narrator was going down the road to the baker’s shop when he met three beautiful women. Friendly banter ensued, laden with innuendo.

Blue Sea, Blue Moon, Blue Skies Irving Berlin, Rogers and Hart, Koehler and Arlen, arr. Stephen Smith
Three captivating and familiar songs on themes of blue close the Elektra Women’s Choir performance this evening.  Once again, Stephen Smith’s gift for choral writing shines brightly.  We hope you will leave the concert with a smile on your face and a song in your heart.

Tags: Elektra Women's Choir  |  Waters Edge Festival 2010

Singer Songwriter lineup

March 10, 2010 | Write a Comment

If you want to perform, spaces are filling up quickly!  Here’s the line up so far:

March 20th
Kylie Shorter
Colin Grieves
Zach and Alana (Solace)
Daniel and Garret (faceplants)
Raagini Appaduri
Celia Zombie
Aurdrey Andchangco

March 21st
Mackenzie Yoon
Jesse and Cora
Amanda Marino
Jeff Huggins
Rory Macrury
Sergio Rumantir
Nicole Broughton and Nicole Poulin
Sarah Bowering
David Blair

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Witness Music History!

March 2, 2010 | Write a Comment

Multi award winning composer/ trumpeter/ producer Brad Turner has composed a major work for jazz septet with a children’s choir feature.  Rare is it that jazz suites include choral parts, let alone children’s voices!  This piece is such a mammoth feat of composition and performance, that this may be a once in a lifetime opportunity to hear the new work in its entirety.  Don’t miss out!

Turner was commissioned by Coastal Sound Music Academy, with funding from BC Arts Council and Province of BC to write something for his group that included a vocal element.  Diana Clark, Artistic Director of Coastal Sound asked Turner what he’d always wanted to write, and he came back with the idea for a multi movement suite based on the idea of crossing cultures, generations, musical genres.  Musicians like Neelamajit Dhillon, an Indian Tabla virtuoso, have been added to the mix for this ground breaking work.  Like Oscar Peterson’s legendary Canadiana Suite, or Duke Ellington’s sacred concerts, Brad Turner’s new piece is sure to live on as a gem.

Experience the world premiere LIVE at Water’s Edge!  Saturday, March 20 at 7:30pm.

Tags: Brad Turner  |  Waters Edge Festival 2010