More Rivers

However seamlessly More Rivers aligns itself to the minimalism genre, it’s no Glass or Reich imitation; in fact, aside from its looping structures and pulsation, the material sidesteps such simple categorizing when its melodic, textural, and tonal reach is so rich.

– textura

Navona Records presents, More Rivers, an album release of piano music by Canadian composer Frank Horvat, performed by pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico.



Water, as a concept, has a mystical quality: It is ever-changing, able to take on almost any form from trickle to deluge, and while at times intimidating and destructive, it is a prerequisite for the sustenance of life. The adventurous and virtuosic Canadian pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico, who championed Ann Southam’s seminal water-inspired work Rivers, decided it was time for a continuation and commissioned a sequel from composer Frank Horvat: a suite of seven solo piano pieces titled More Rivers.

The idea was to bring Canadian minimalist music to Canadian audiences, but Petrowska Quilico and Horvat may well have exceeded their goal. With glimpses of impressionism, of Prokofievian harmonies and Pärtian spirit, textures reminiscent of Messiaen, and of course the pianist’s impeccable interpretation, More Rivers is wonderfully timeless and universal.

It was a fruitful collaboration.

– Ludwig van Toronto

Learn more about the making of this album.

Played with great virtuosity, discipline and control by Christina it’s a very pleasant way to spend 65 minutes.

– John Gilks, Opera Ramblings

DavE LAKE’s Indepth Interview with Christina and Frank on WRUU Radio

Performer’s Notes (excerpt)

As humans, we are oblivious to this minimalism, but with every stream of water that flows through our precious rivers, the river as we know it, the life within it and around it, changes so imperceptibly. Erosion, nutrients and oxygen that surge through every whoosh of water has a huge impact that alters the landscape around it and our ability to sustain life on this planet.

What is so wonderful about music is that it’s always in flux, too. Interpretations change and new perspectives of familiar themes can become an exciting adventure in sound. This is why I was excited about working with composer Frank Horvat on this new 65-minute set of solo piano pieces, MORE RIVERS. We were creating an ode to the work of Ann Southam, our struggling environment, and the ever-changing landscape of contemporary composition for which I as a performer relish my unique role.

This project has its roots in my friendship with Canadian composer Ann Southam, who was my collaborator for over 30 years. Our creative relationship and a mutual love for art and the environment spawned seven albums. Her original Rivers cycle was released by Centrediscs in 2005. Southam gave me the score in 1981. It’s minimalist, iterative and lyrical. As a performer, I re-envisioned Rivers in many tempos, reflecting roaring rivers and gentle brooks. As an interpreter of contemporary music, I consider the importance of reading the score to be about more than correct notes and good tone. Imagination and risk-taking are crucial in making multi-faceted and exciting performances that delve deeply into the composer’s psyche and intentions.

I believe that Rivers is Southam’s masterpiece, written in her prime and showcasing her mastery. I love performing these pieces more than any other of her works. I never tire of the changing patterns and the spontaneous and improvisatory mood of the music. There’s a fluid and unpredictable counterpoint to the music, reflecting the rushing cascades, luxuriant eddies, and meditative stillness in the music, which alternates between large kinetic strokes and delicately detailed duets.

This joy in performance, and the critical and public success of Rivers added to my desire to create MORE RIVERS with Frank Horvat, who’s coincidentally from my hometown of Ottawa. Southam (b.1937) and Horvat (b.1974) were born 37 years apart — meaning MORE RIVERS was sure to have a new language, a new perspective, and new way to speak to new generations…Just as Southam’s works inspired Horvat’s generation of composers, I hope that both their works can inspire the up-and-coming generations. We need these younger creators more than ever to innovate classical music and to use their voices to speak for dramatic environmental change and preservation.

Beautiful, enveloping piece…

– Tom Allen, CBC’s About Time

…Horvat has persisted in his eclecticism and is still hard to pin down. His latest release, More Rivers, explores yet another side of his creativity in a tribute to Ann Southam…

– David Olds, WholeNote Magazine

Story behind the tracks

Tracks: 01-07 More Rivers