Each week this summer, I posted a random thought/idea/feeling/wish that I hope will help make me a better person and ...
Memories of Self-Isolation – 1 Month To Go!
Categories: Life, Making Music
Composing, revising and scoring is complete. Rehearsals are underway. Tickets are on sale. Hard to believe that the premiere performance by the Vancouver Bach Choir is just one month away!
This has been a major and wonderful project in my life this past year. VBC commissioned me to compose this cantata for vocal soloists, chorus and chamber ensemble. It’s the sequel to Music for Self-Isolation. Called ‘Memories of Self-Isolation’, it explore perspectives and challenges faced by a cross-section of society as a result of living through the COVID pandemic.
It was a pleasure to set the poignant words of the following talented poets to music:
Yewande Akinse
Russell Blalack
Jane Covernton
Parvaneh Eshghi
Lesley-Anne Evans
Athena Kildegaard
Vlada Mars
Many thanks to them and the other amazing writers who submitted verse for our consideration.
Through their words, ‘Memories of Self-Isolation’ looks back at the hardship and challenges that our world faced these last few years while providing hope for the future. It’s going to be wonderful to have this large communal gathering of live musicians explore important themes around healing that we need to undertake in order to move forward.
You can learn more about the work by reading the programme notes, now available in my composition portfolio.
Such a large-scale project does not happen without the support of many individuals. I am forever grateful to Leslie Dala for his invitation to compose the work and his collaborative spirit, Gillian Hunter-Gibbs for making the premiere performance happen, and Alice Dearden, Sarah Jo Kirsch and Fabiana Katz for their invaluable insights during the composition process.
I can’t wait to travel to beautiful British Columbia next month to attend rehearsals and the November 12 performance, and work alongside this talented group of musicians.
Stay tuned to my social media channels, my blog posts and my e-newsletter for updates.
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