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Sundial, Mount pleasant cemetery

Finding Willan’s grave

Sometimes I receive correspondence from people in far off places wanting to learn about Healey Willan, our great 20th-century Canadian composer. It’s because I was music director at the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene for a short time, and I’ve done some Willan research in the Library and Archives Canada, delivering some academic papers and performing lots of his choral music. Last week one such visitor came to me from San Diego California. We had done the usual round of Willan sites, visiting churches and talking to people who knew Willan well. But when my guest suggested we visit the… Read More »Finding Willan’s grave

In search of Shofar

Way back in my university days, my professor suggested I write a paper on the Jewish ceremonial instrument the Shofar, since I was interested in this sort of thing. I never took up that assignment, and now I wish I had. Years later, Bruce Hill would come home from leading choirs for High Holy Days at Holy Blossom Temple, and tell me how stirring and impressive the sound of the Shofar had been. I never attended one of those services, so regrettably never heard the thrilling ‘Tekiah’ call of the Shofar, and I wish I had. Now I’m preparing to… Read More »In search of Shofar

work station

Nimrod, rabbit holes, and the King of the Saxons

Score study for a big work like The Apostles often leads me down research rabbit holes, and I end up in unexpected places. My workstation, as you see from the photo, includes the full score, the vocal score, Jaeger’s analysis, ‘Letters to Nimrod’ ed. Percy M. Young, the Holy Bible, and coffee. Google, YouTube and iTunes are also frequently consulted. My goal today was to study Elgar’s system of leitmotifs, which he uses to unify The Apostles but those serendipitous bunny tunnels lead from one discovery to the next, and I learned a bunch of cool stuff instead. Our performance… Read More »Nimrod, rabbit holes, and the King of the Saxons

schola foto

Schola Magdalena meets Darbazi

When Darbazi first approached us to sing a concert together, I thought this was an unlikely partnership. We are so different. Schola Magdalena sings all ethereal and high, and Darbazi sings all earthy and low. Our music reaches for the celestial; their music strikes the heart. However, when we got together at St. Mary Mag’s, one cold night in the dim December light, we discovered the essence of our music is extremely compatible, even in its diversity. I was reminded of the words of the poet George Herbert who explained that, “all music is but three parts vied and multiplied.”… Read More »Schola Magdalena meets Darbazi

The Great Shoe Purge

It’s the February long weekend in Canada. Maybe you have resolved to do a bit of a clean up as I have. I could do with some serious streamlining of my belongings. I’ll share my process with you. I decided to start at the bottom, with all the shoes I have accumulated over several decades. My shoe purge method follows: Step 1. Bring out all the shoes in your house; all the boots sitting in corners, all the fancy dress shoes stacked in dark closets, the flip flops tucked under the bed, the dance shoes in bags, the winter shoes… Read More »The Great Shoe Purge

Toronto Consort tonight

Toronto Consort presents Kanatha/Canada: First Encounters tonight at Trinity St. Paul’s Centre in Toronto. I stepped out into the sub-zero temperatures last night to see the Toronto Consort’s stimulating new show. It features instruments from the time of Champlain, as well as some traditional music performed by First Nation’s People, who are keeping their own music alive and well. What did it sound like, centuries ago, when the original inhabitants of our land encountered visiting Europeans? The concert conjures up this imaginary soundscape. The programme is built around a new piece by John Beckwith who, at age 90, stands as… Read More »Toronto Consort tonight

tea cup

Tea with Milk

My friend is normally a rational, kind, reasonable sort of person. But there’s this tea thing. If you dare pour in the tea before you pour in the milk, you face a tirade of explosive accusations: ‘How could you possibly pour in the tea before pouring in the milk? How were you brought up!’ etc. Now, see, I’ve had plenty of embarrassing situations in my long life. I have forgotten names and called Bob ‘Jim’ and Sally ‘Marie.’ I have spoken audibly in sacred spaces, between ablutions and blessings. I have cheered when a goal is scored – against the… Read More »Tea with Milk

The Arrow and the Song

I’ve posted a new ‘free score’ for you to enjoy with your choir. No, it’s not a Christmas piece. My dear friend Tricia will be celebrating a significant birthday and she asked me to write a piece for her, in lieu of chocolates, flowers or silk stockings. She chose the text from Longfellow which turns out to be a delightful reflection on friendship and artistic effort. She also ran an important fundraising evening for ALS to celebrate her birthday. What a beautiful and selfless thing to do. Thanks for the opportunity Tricia! Just go to my Compositions Page and you’ll… Read More »The Arrow and the Song

Birmingham Town Hall

Elijah and bicycles?

Wrapping up my final year with Pax Christi Chorale is a profound, bitter-sweet pleasure. Things will get rolling on the first weekend of November with Mendelssohn’s dramatic oratorio Elijah. I have adored this piece since I learned it in 1977, at 15 years of age, one of the younger singers in Waterloo region’s Mennonite Mass Choir, conducted by my Dad. I really could not believe that as a choral singer, you could throw yourself into the role of a Baal worshipper, and sing really nasty things. It was delightfully naughty and the big sound of about 230 voices with full… Read More »Elijah and bicycles?

Cloister Gloucester cathedral

Packing

I got the Wanderlust early on when my parents planned a three-month trip to Europe with four children aged 7-14 in tow. My late husband and I made travel a priority in our lives, and we often found interesting ways to fashion extended trips around organ recitals, visits with friends, choir tours, or musical exchanges. All of this was marvelous of course, but one thing in preparing for a long trip drove me around the bend. Whereas I would be fussing about and organizing my suitcase several weeks before the trip, Bruce would calmly leave his packing until the night… Read More »Packing