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Tomato warrior

The skill set needed to harvest an urban tomato crop lies somewhere between rugby player, ballet dancer, and medieval warrior. The plants, huddled closely in a phalanx of foliage, are shielded by the dewy remnant of late afternoon rain. They are ripe, ready and wet. You’re going to need steely resolve to go in there and win! Since many have fallen, you’ll just have to roll up your sleeves, wrestle with your entrenched enemy, and get dirty. Actually quite dirty. At the same time, the plants’ contorted postures require your best twists and turns, extended reach, and some tastefully awkward… Read More »Tomato warrior

The Sun, the Wind, and the Man with the Cloak

The Sun, the Wind, and the Man with the Cloak (SWMC) In May 2017 Pax Christi Chorale gave me a beautiful parting gift: a commission to write a big new piece for them. Here’s what happened. De-programming with my colleague Paul Ciufo at O’Brien’s Irish pub after our first operatic project The Llandovery Castle, I recalled a childhood storybook shared with a group of wide-eyed, cross-legged kids in the public library. Book upon her knee, the librarian entranced us with Aesop’s ancient fable of ‘The Sun, the Wind, and the Man with the Cloak.’ The Story Two elemental protagonists, arguing… Read More »The Sun, the Wind, and the Man with the Cloak

Holy Family Church

Two places at once

On June 9th I will be happy, but conflicted. On that Sunday my ‘Missa Chicagoensis’ gets its Canadian premiere, conducted by Aaron James at the Oratory of Philip Neri on King street in Toronto. Up the street a ways, at the very same time, Matthew Whitfield conducts the Toronto premiere of my Pentecost motet ‘Dum complerentur’ at St. Thomas’ Anglican church on Huron street. They say it never rains but it pours. Both of these pieces were commissioned, recorded for Youtube and published by Fr Scott Haynes and his stellar choir at the church of St John Cantius in Chicago.… Read More »Two places at once

Rob’s Birthday Paean

Caveat: The last line of this fine birthday song, written for Rob Castle, Cantor at the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, on the occasion of his 50th birthday, long ago, needs no word of explanation for those of you familiar with the traditional, rousing, Toronto birthday toast, “Here’s to so and so: he’s a horse’s ass.” No disrespect is intended. In fact it’s a badge of honour – in certain circles – to receive this sobriquet from friends and family. To further curate the text, please understand that ‘clivis’, ‘pes’ and ‘torculus’ are the names of neumes: musical signs used… Read More »Rob’s Birthday Paean

How to become a millionaire: sandwich math

I was shuffling my way to work in the freezing cold and suddenly realized I had forgotten to pack my lunch. Annoyed with myself, I stopped by a convenient and friendly little corner café to buy a sandwich. As I watched the proprietor slowly assemble the required ingredients, toast the bread, spoon out the pre-made sandwich filling with an ice-cream scoop, apologize that I wouldn’t be getting any lettuce since the romaine had been recalled, squeeze out the mayo, and carefully cut the completed creation in half horizontally, I wondered “is this actually saving me any time at all,” and… Read More »How to become a millionaire: sandwich math

Let all mortal flesh keep silence

Seems when I have trouble in life, some Earthly Angel comes along to give me direction. Such an EA (Earthly Angel) descended last month, shortly after my Dad died. Catherine Daniel has been busy travelling and singing Wagner, Strauss and other big opera roles. She also takes time to develop new Canadian works of a more modest nature. If you attended the workshop of our opera Llandovery Castle you would have heard her creating the role of  Margaret Marjory “Pearl” Fraser in June of this year. Cathy asked me to arrange a hymn for her upcoming recording project Sacred Christmas.… Read More »Let all mortal flesh keep silence

Dad

In memoriam Abner Martin

My Dad passed away last week. Friends and family sent him to his eternal rest yesterday with a service in his country church, filled with lusty hymn singing and thoughtful words. I’d like to share my brother Kevin’s eulogy, reprinted here verbatim. Rest in Peace, Abner Martin. Our family thanks every one for your attendance here today and for the many expressions of sympathy and tributes to dad that we have received. My Father suggested that I might, possibly make a few remarks on his life at his funeral. He had strong ideas about funerals; that they should be for… Read More »In memoriam Abner Martin

Cat eyes

Cat’s eyes

The cat looks me straight in the eye With her wide cat’s eyes; big, round, green, and slightly wild. I’m on a stool in the kitchen, after day’s long work, Finishing my humble dinner, listening to CBC radio. The cat assesses the situation. I am stationary – quietly eating. She fervently desires to jump up and dine with me. Adjusting paws, dodging head side to side, Preparing hairy limbs to shoulder the leap, Whiskers twitching, striped, serpentine tail twisting, She covets my higher position. But is the risk too great? She looks me up and down, sideways, crosswise, backward and… Read More »Cat’s eyes

Antinous

Sex on stage: Stephanus and Maximus on HADRIAN

My imaginary friends Stephanus and Maximus often help me work things out. They usually time-travel between a medieval university and ancient Rome, but here they are in present day Toronto, and they’ve just attended the new opera HADRIAN Stephanus: Thank you once again Maximus for inviting me to the opera! Maximus: My pleasure Stephanus. I’ve been a devoted Operagoer all my long life, so it’s nice to share this with a younger person. I do hope you enjoyed it? Stephanus: Y- yes. But my head is still spinning. I’m not sure I understand the message. Hadrian makes a bargain with… Read More »Sex on stage: Stephanus and Maximus on HADRIAN

llandovery Castle

Llandovery Castle highlights

This June our new opera Llandovery Castle was mounted in a workshop production, commemorating the nurses, doctors, medics, staff and crew of the Canadian hospital ship torpedoed in the Celtic Sea on June 27, 1918. Alisa Siegel created a documentary about this WWI tragedy for Michael Enright’s CBC radio show, The Sunday Edition. Our two workshop performances at Calvin Presbyterian Church in Toronto had full houses. And thanks to that strong audience, generous donors, and a Canada Council grant, we also had financial success. Now we want to share the highlights with you. Thanks to videographer Darren Bryant and Limberlost… Read More »Llandovery Castle highlights