Report by:
Mark Emerson Hopkins, DMA
Assistant Professor
Hanover College
PO Box 108
Hanover, IN 47243-0108
Canadian Wind Band/Wind Ensemble Music Since
1990:
A Report for Frank L. Battisti
Preamble
Wind music in Canada has gone through several phases, from 19th Century quadrilles and waltzes performed by regimental bands through radio broadcast show bands in the mid-20th century. In the 1970's and 1980's, sporadic bursts of serious wind band/wind ensemble commissioning activity took place, centered around university music programs, fuelled by readily-available grants from provincial and national arts councils. This activity died-off in the 1990's, and fewer commissions of wind works took place. Indeed, Canadian public arts grant organizations appear to have developed a negative bias towards the wind band medium through the last decade.
The music listed below was composed since 1990, and is grouped into three categories. It is a representative cross-section of the best wind band/wind ensemble compositions of the last 12 years in Canada.
(1) Works commissioned for artist-level ensembles (university or professional groups)
Michael Colgrass - Urban Requiem, Dream Dancer (alto saxophone and wind ensemble)
John Hawkins - Summer Dances (clarinet and wind ensemble)
Bruce Mather - Advanced Harmony (trumpet, piano and winds)
Lothar Klein - Let the Trumpet and the Tea Kettle Speak
Henry Kucharzyk - Some Assembly Required
(all of the above works reside in the Canadian Music Centre, 416.961.6601)
(2) Works conceived for Educational performance purposes
NB - While the works listed below are geared towards players from middle-school through advanced high school, they are of high quality, and often performed and recorded by professional and university ensembles.
Bruce Carleson - Toledo (middle school/early high school)
Donald Coakley - Sonics, Antiphonals (advanced high school)
Lyric Essay 2000 (middle school/early high school)
Michael Colgrass - Old Churches (middle school/early high school)
John Herberman - The Fisher Who Died in his Bed
Scott Irvine - Epitaphium II
(all of the above works are published, except Antiphonals and Epitaphium II)
(3) Brass Band
NB - The brass band medium has developed a strong following in Toronto, spearheaded by the Hannaford Street Silver Band. This ensemble is comprised of professional players from orchestras in Toronto. They have over a dozen commissions from this 12-year period, and deserve special mention. The composers and the works they created are not "traditional" - they are often quite adventuresome, and the ensemble is pushing boundaries of traditional brass band repertoire. The best Canadian works are listed below.
ANNIVERSARY OVERTURE, by J. Scott Irvine Premiered at the Algoma Fall Festival. October 15. 1994. Howard Cable, Guest Conductor. Recorded June 1996, CD "Northern Delights".
ATTRACTIVE METAL FOR FRENCH HORN AND BRASS BAND, by Roger Bergs Premiered on
Sunday February 4th, 1996, Jane Mallett Theatre. Guest Conductor, James Curnow.
Soloist, James Sommerville. Commission assisted by the Ontario Arts Council.
Premier recorded for broadcast by CBC Radio.
AUBADE, by J Scott Irvine Performed in Collingwood, Cornwall and Toronto in October 1989. Also Performed in Toronto in October 1991 and at the Festival of the Sound. July 1995. All Performances with Stuart Laughton, Soloist.
AWAKENINGS, by J. Scott Irvine. To receive its premiere performance on November 16th, 1999 at the Massey Hall New Music Festival with Bramwell Tovey, Guest Conductor. This works is commissioned by CBC Radio.
THE BANKS OF NEWFOUNDLAND arranged by Howard Cable. Premiered on October 26, 1986, Little Trinity Church. Howard Cable, Guest Conductor. Recorded on CBC SMCD5136, "Canadian Impressions".
THE BARDFIELD AYRE, by Bramwell Tovey Commissioned with the assistance of the HSSB. Premiered on October 7, 1996, Jane Mallett Theatre. Guest Conductor, Bramwell Tovey. Recorded for Broadcast by CBC Radio Concert Hall. Most recent performance at the Winnipeg New Music Festival January 1997. Recorded on SMCD 5188, "Brass Links".
BOTANICUS, Concerto for Euphonium and Brass Band, by Charles Cozens. Premiered on November 10th, 1998, Massey Hall. Bramwell Tovey Guest Conductor, Curtis Metcalf Euphonium Soloist. Premier recorded for Broadcast by CBC Radio's Two New Hours.
BRING ON THE BRASS, by J. Scott Irvine and Mark Rubin commissioned in July/August 1990. Recorded for NW records. This commission was made possible through a grant from the Laidlaw Foundation
CATHEDRAL SONGS, by Glen Buhr Commissioned by David Jaeger. Premiered by members of the HSSB, Toronto Symphony Nexus and the Toronto Children's Chorus, March 30th, 1995. Jukka Pekka Saraste, Guest Conductor. Live to Air Broadcast on The Arts Tonight.
CIRCUS MUSIC, by Raymond Luedeke. Commission premiered April 1991. Recorded on CBC SMCD5136, "Canadian Impressions". NOTE: This work was made possible through a grant from the Canada Council.
CONCERTO FOR ACCORDION AND BRASS BAND, by Gary Kulesha. Commission Premiered April 5, 1998, Joe Macerollo, Accordion Soloist. First performance recorded by CBC Radio for Music Around Us. This work was made Possible by a Grant from the Laidlaw Foundation.
CONCERTINO for EUPHONIUM, by J. Scott Irvine. Commission Premiered on May 12, 1988 and Performed at Guelph Spring Festival on May 23, 1988. Recorded on CBC SMCD5136, "Canadian Impressions". This commission was made possible through a grant from the Laidlaw Foundation.
COASTAL TERMINATOR, by Alex Pauk. Commissioned by the HSSB. Premiered on October 7th, 1996 Jane Mallett Theatre. Guest Conductor, Bramwell Tovey. Performance recorded for broadcast by CBC radio for Radio Concert Hall. Most recent Performance at the Winnipeg New Music Festival January, 1997.
DIVINIUM MYSTERIUM, by John Burge. Commissioned by the HSSB with the assistance of the Laidlaw Foundation. Premiered on Sunday, December 10, 1995, Jane Mallett Theatre. Lydia Adams, Guest Conductor with members of the Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto. Premier recorded for broadcast by CBC Radio.
FANFARE, by Godfrey Ridout. Brass Band adaptation by J. Scott Irvine. First performed at the Algoma Fall Festival, October 15, 1994. Howard Cable, Guest Conductor. Recorded on CD "Northern Delights", June 1996.
HANNAFORD OVERTURE, by J. Scott Irvine. Commission premiered October 26, 1986 and has been subsequently performed on tour at many quest appearances. Has been recorded for the CBC SM5000 label (SMCD 5103).
HANNAFORD STREET MARCH, by Leonard Ballantine. Commission premiered in 1985 and subsequently performed at many concerts and on tour. Recorded by the CBC on the SM 5000 label (SMCD 5103).
HARK THE GLAD SOUND, by Clifford Crawley. Premiered on December 13, 1992 with the Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto.
KALENDA MAYA, by Patrick Cardy. Premiered on April 11th, 1999 at the Jane Mallett Theatre, Toronto with Guest Conductor, James Curnow. This commission was made possible by a grant from the Ontario Arts Council.
IN THE LAND OF THE SPIRITS, by John Kim Bell, transcription by J. Scott Irvine. Commissioned by the Hannaford Street Silver Band. Premiered on March 13, 1994 in the Jane Mallett Theatre, Bramwell Tovey, guest conductor. Recorded June 1996 on CD "Northern Delights".
THE LAYS OF THE MAPLE LEAF, by James P. Clarke, arrangement by Howard Cable. Commissioned by the Hannaford Street Silver Band. Premiered on March 13, 1994 at the Jane Mallett Theatre, Bramwell Tovey, guest conductor. Recorded June 1996 on CD "Northern Delights".
LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS TO HEAVEN, by Robert Greeley. Premiered on December 13, 1992 with the Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto.
LULLABY FOR NICKY THE WONDER DOG, by Peter Koene. Premiered on November 2, 1997, Bramwell Tovey, Guest Conductor. NOTE: This work was commissioned with the assistance of the Laidlaw Foundation.
THE MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE, Concerto for Percussionist and Brass Band, by Omar Daniel. Premiered by the HSSB on January 26th , 1997, Beverley Johnston, Guest Soloist, Susan Haig, Guest Conductor. Most recent performance at the Winnipeg New Music Festival, January 27th, 1997. NOTE: This commission was made possible by grants from the Ontario Arts Council and the Laidlaw Foundation.
MASQUERADE, by Donald Coakley. Premiered on January 9th, 1995, James Curnow, Guest Conductor. This was made possible by a grant from the Laidlaw Foundation. Premier was recorded for broadcast by CBC Radio.
ONTARIO PICTURES, by Howard Cable. Brass Band adaptation by Howard Cable. Commissioned by the HSSB. Premiered on October 15th, 1994 at the Algoma Fall Festival. Recorded June 1996 on CD "Northern Delights".
ON THE JUMP!, by Andrew MacDonald. Commission premiered on March 21, 1993 at the Jane Mallet Theatre. This was made possible by a grant from the Canada Council.
OVERTURE, LA PRIMA BALLERINA, by Godfrey Ridout. Brass Band arrangement J. Scott Irvine. Premiered on April 2nd, 1995, Ormsby Wilkins, Guest Conductor.
OVERTURE, THE BRIDAL ROSE, by Calixa Lavalle. Arrangement by Howard Cable. Commissioned by the Hannaford Street Silver Band. Premiered on March 13, 1994, Jane Mallett Theatre, Bramwell Tovey, Guest conductor. Recorded June 1996 on the CD "Northern Delights".
ROMANCE, by Gary Kulesha. Brass version Premiered In Toronto on May 22, 1988 and performed at the Guelph Spring Festival on May 23, 1988. Recorded on CBC SMCD5136, "Canadian Impressions".
ROUND DANCE, by John Weinzweig. Orchestrated by J. Scott Irvine. Premiered on October 27, 1991. Recorded on CBC SMCD5136, "Canadian Impressions".
SATURDAY'S GAME, by Howard Cable. Brass Band adaptation by the composer. First performed at the Algoma Fall Festival, October 15th, 1994. Recorded June 1996 on CD "Northern Delights".
SINFONIA FOR BRASS BAND WITH HARP AND PIANO, by Gary Kulesha. Premiered on Monday October 23, 1995, Jane Mallett Theatre, Bramwell Tovey, Guest Conductor. Commission assisted by Ontario Arts Council. Recorded for broadcast October 1, 1996. Most recent performance at the Winnipeg New Music Festival, January, 1997. Recorded on SMCD 5188, "Brass Links".
SONGS FROM THE QU'APPELLE VALLEY, by Malcolm Forsyth. Premiered October 25, Recorded on CBC SMCD5136, "Canadian Impressions". NOTE: This commission was made possible through a grant from the Ontario Arts Council.
SOUNDINGS, by Gary Kulesha. Premiered by the HSSB at the Festival of the Sound, August 1985. First performed in Toronto on October 6, 1986. Last Performed at the Festival of the Sound in August 1990.
CORRAL, by Henry Kucharzyk
THE SEVEN GATES OF KUR, by Randolph Peters
SHE THREW IT DOWN ANATHEMA, by Jeff Ryan
(Information about most of the above works is available through the Canadian
Music Centre)
Closing Comments
While the above lists represent the best Canadian band compositions from the
1990's, some disturbing trends are evident. First, many significant Canadian
composers are rarely approached about composing for the wind ensemble. Canadian
educators and conductors need to approach Canada's top composers, such as Alexina
Louie, Glenn Buhr, Peter Paul Koprowski, and Sril Irving Glick, and convince
them to compose new wind band/wind ensemble works. The grant system that fuelled
university commissions in the 1970's and 1980's has shrunk to a shadow of its
former self. Therefore, Canadian performers, conductors, arts administrators
and composers should learn from their colleagues in the United States, and collaborate
through consortiums. To date, very few (if any) wind band commissioning consortiums
have been assembled in Canada. Consortiums would allow several smaller ensembles/schools
to accumulate enough seed money to commission top Canadian composers, and move
Canadian wind band music forward.
One of the reasons brass bands have achieved so much is due to the professional wind standard exemplified by the Hannaford Street Silver Band. Composers take the HSSB seriously, and enjoy the challenge of composing new works for this fine ensemble. Granting institutions hold up the Hannaford commissioning and programming record as a model for other arts organiztions.
Composers need to be similarly convinced to compose wind band/wind ensemble works, and treat the medium with the respect it deserves. Many Canadian composers (and granting organizations) harbor negative associations because of the poor quality literature and low performance standard they have heard in the band medium. Universities, professional wind groups and professional orchestral wind sections have a duty to raise standards across the country, before the composition of new wind band works in Canada will flourish.
Completed January 24, 2002
Report by:
Mark Emerson Hopkins, DMA
Assistant Professor
Hanover College
PO Box 108
Hanover, IN 47243-0108
tel 812.866.7329
fax 812.866.7114