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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

Parry's autograph score

JUDITH – the video

At long last, our video of C. H. Hubert Parry’s oratorio JUDITH is available for you to watch and listen to on Youtube. Click here for Pax Christi Chorale’s video of JUDITH. We performed JUDITH on May 3, 2015 at Koerner Hall in Toronto. This was the first full performance of Judith in a very, very long time. It was certainly the first full performance of the 21st century, and the first in North America. We hope that other choirs will perform it, since the work is dramatic, beautifully crafted, and satisfying to sing. This enterprise was much more than… Read More »JUDITH – the video

Babel

Babel: a choral symphony – the video

Due to the forward thinking folks at Wilfrid Laurier University, the premiere performance of my choral symphony “Babel” is now up on Youtube for you to see and hear. I’d love to share this with you. If you have 45 minutes to spare, click through to the video and watch. Here’s the link to the movie: Babel: a choral symphony There is no scrolling text in the video so if you want to reference the words of Cori Martin’s beautiful and thought-provoking poetry, you can click on this link here: BABEL How did the premiere go you ask? Very well.… Read More »Babel: a choral symphony – the video

Always ahead

When hiking on hills, I have to remind myself to turn around. In the moment it seems so important just to keep climbing, climbing, always ahead, but the real reward comes from a 180 degree turn, to look back and enjoy the fabulous scenery behind – after all that’s what climbing hills is all about – the view. How about you? In real life, I am so often engaged in forward planning that sometimes I forget to look back. When someone asks me “so how did it go last weekend?” I have trouble remembering what they are even talking about!… Read More »Always ahead

Timeless

On Good Friday I left the big city behind, and travelled to my parents’ place, passing through a fantastic icy world; each towering pine tree clad in a Christening gown; every branch covered in brilliant, wintry jewels. When I came through their door, the egg painting ritual was just beginning, and we sat quietly drawing flowers and stars, stripes, polka dots and Latin mottos, decorating and dipping in aqua, magenta, ochre and puce. My mother brings out the quilt she’s been patching together, and we scratch our heads over the geometric problem of turning diamonds into squares. Our evening pilgrimage… Read More »Timeless

BABEL – the poem by Cori Martin

Thanks so much for your thoughtful responses to my last post. Your overwhelming kindness and support humbles me. Many of you have requested to read the poem “Babel” by Cori Martin in advance of the performance. You’ll need to print out all 4 pages and sit down with a cup of coffee and devote some time to this. The body of the poem runs alongside marginalia taken from diverse, existing poetry in many languages. Keep the notes on page 4 handy – you’ll be looking up classical verse, German poetry, Dante, Milton and the Bible etc. etc. Actually you might even want… Read More »BABEL – the poem by Cori Martin

An open letter to students boycotting my work

Rehearsals are underway for the first performance of my choral symphony at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo. I am saddened to hear that some students are boycotting my work since they consider it “blasphemous.” I believe a Canadian university must be a safe place to discuss controversial topics and respect differences – a haven for critical thinking, experiment and inquiry – and I hope every student pouring their hard work and musicianship into this project can feel safe and proud performing my piece. I post this open letter not to judge, but to invite reflection and reconciliation. Dear Students, Love… Read More »An open letter to students boycotting my work

Scribe

Stephanus and Maximus on Art

Maximus: Wake up Stephanus. It’s your move! Stephanus: Gosh. Sorry. Am I white or black? Maximus: Oh for heaven’s sake Stephanus… and by the way, my knight has just taken your Queen so you’d better be a little more careful on your next move. What’s wrong with you tonight? Stephanus: I apologize Maximus. I’m distracted, and the candlelight lulls me into a brooding sort of mood. Maximus: Pray do tell. (Takes a draught of ale from his tankard.) Stephanus: Well, I’m thinking about my students once again. (Sighs heavily.) Maximus: What is it this time? Stephanus: They argue about Art… Read More »Stephanus and Maximus on Art

The Garden City

On the Compositions page of my website I periodically rotate some free scores and recordings for you. I’ve just posted The Garden City, a little piano piece that honours the town of St. Catharines in Ontario wine country. The piece was premiered by Karin Di Bella, head of piano music at Brock University, at the opening of the new recital hall at their beautiful new downtown campus. You can download this for free, play it, give it to your students, whatever you like. There’s an MP3 recording posted as well, played by a machine, so probably better if you just… Read More »The Garden City

Unexpected Art

On a winter walk, I’m bored with rhythmic trudging On the boulevard.   I can’t stop to look Or idly gaze on cattails In the icy park!   Seven thousand steps: That’s my daily requirement, So my phone declares.   But ’round the next bend, My eyes suddenly perceive Unexpected art.   On a crumbling wall Colours, lines and shapes create A weird gallery:   Bones, skulls, animals, And a misfit sailing ship Delight my sad eyes.   Now, all that I see Becomes ready canvas for Nature’s graffiti.   Magestic towers Stretch magic threads. Ice and snow Become diamonds.… Read More »Unexpected Art