Skip to content

BLOG

In memoriam Brian Bedford: The haymaking

Summer on the farm in my youth involved making hay. Lots and lots of hay. To city folks, that might sound delightful, pleasantly Arcadian, perhaps vaguely erotic, but I am telling you. It was plain hard work. The whole family pitched in, each with their appointed task; first cutting down the green, maiden grass, then raking and turning it toward the sun, transforming the upright crop into brittle filigree. Then binding it up with twine, forming it into square bales, transferring it to lofty red wagons, driving it steeply up to the mow, unloading the wagon-full onto an ‘elevator’ and… Read More »In memoriam Brian Bedford: The haymaking

Alma Mater

40th anniversary celebrations are starting to roll out for Wilfrid Laurier University’s music faculty where I studied from 1980 – 84. In late January there will be a new music festival and the Penderecki String Quartet are playing a short excerpt of my music! In April is the big show where the Laurier choirs and orchestras will play my choral symphony, Babel. (check out my upcoming events for details) These events make me nostalgic for that simpler, student time, living sparsely in one room with a desk and a bed and a roommate; studying, practicing, practicing, practicing, discovering beer, practicing,… Read More »Alma Mater

The Gift

“No gifts this year” seemed the rational proclamation, since all of us acknowledged we had every necessity in excess; much more than we required, and everything we wanted beyond what we needed. This yearly policy was clearly stated, and yearly the rule was ignored or broken, the gifts wrapped, and placed under the tree bound up with its sparkling bobbles and chains. But this Christmas our privilege seemed more pronounced, and the needs of others seemed more keen – so many without house or home, and we with so much. The holiday mantra was therefore revised: “only re-gifted items please… Read More »The Gift

New prince, new pomp

New prince, new pomp (Robert Southwell, 1605) Behold, a silly tender babe In freezing winter night In homely manger trembling lies,— Alas, a piteous sight! The inns are full, no man will yield This little pilgrim bed, But forced he is with silly beasts In crib to shroud his head. Despise him not for lying there, First, what he is enquire, An orient pearl is often found In depth of dirty mire. Weigh not his crib, his wooden dish, Nor beasts that by him feed; Weigh not his mother’s poor attire Nor Joseph’s simple weed. This stable is a prince’s… Read More »New prince, new pomp

Menno mosso: 60 years of singing

This afternoon in the sleepy, golden-leafed village of St. Jacob’s Ontario, Menno Singers presents the first concert in their anniversary season. This particular event will shine a spotlight on Abner Martin (my Dad) who founded this choir 60 years ago. In the early years of the choir’s formation, they sang renaissance polyphony. In those days it was common practice to sing Latin motets in English translation. (Even at St. Mary Magdalene’s the choral library is full of anglicized versions of the renaissance classics.) My Dad says one of the principal inspiration for him was in fact not recordings of choral music, but… Read More »Menno mosso: 60 years of singing

(Another) big weekend

I’ve almost recovered from an wonderful weekend in Victoria, seeing family and old friends, and hearing the premiere of “Alpha and Omega” sung beautifully by the cathedral choir, two skilled and very brave soloists, accompanied by three organists, including Michael Gormley. I felt as if a bit of history was unfolding before my eyes and ears – witnessing the installation of the first female Dean of Christ Church Cathedral. The stained glass artist Christopher Wallis was also present, and we visited his other windows at Government house, with a tour through the grand and entirely empty mansion after hours. After… Read More »(Another) big weekend

Henry and Hildegard

Today we’re hobnobbing with about 200 people, exploring the phenomenal medieval mystic, poet, musician, scientists, biologist and nun, Hildegard of Bingen. It’s an unusual venue for liturgical chant from the middle ages – we’ll be performing at the Revue Cinema, one of the last great neighbourhood theatres in Toronto. Schola Magdalena will sing some of Hildegard’s music, we’ll watch a new documentary on her life, and then afterwards, we’ll talk with some scholars who have been seriously engaged with analyzing her manuscripts and her life. Reading through Hildegard’s poetry this morning I am reminded of her boundless creativity and the freshness… Read More »Henry and Hildegard

Stephanie Martin

The season begins

The 2015-16 music season is about to unfold, and that means there are many musical events I’d like to tell you about. I’ve been updating the UPCOMING EVENTS page on this blog to give you all the highlights and some of the details of events coming up this Autumn and Christmas. I’ve got a new CD coming out this fall of my cantata Winter Nights which features other choral music that I’ve written in the past three years. You can grab a copy or two at concerts, or order it online. Schola Magdalena is busy singing unusual events – a… Read More »The season begins

Museum of Human Rights

Why Winnipeg?

Some have asked, “Why was the Royal Canadian College of Organists’ annual convention held in Winnipeg?” Winnipeg, an ancient meeting place at the intersection of two rivers, is richly layered with history and culture, boasting many fine organs, choirs and orchestral players who provided us with a thrilling week of workshops and concerts this July. The organizers of this year’s RCCO convention brilliantly linked our small musical fellowship with the wider urban community, connecting our festival with the world-class Museum of Human Rights, recently opened right around the corner from the Via Rail train station. The Museum is a thought-provoking… Read More »Why Winnipeg?

CCCathedral Victoria window

Through a glass, darkly

I’ve had a musical commission for Victoria Cathedral on the backburner for some time. It’s the third in a triptych of pieces, each inspired by a special work of art in the building. The first was a stone bird, the second was a dove in the baptistery. The subject of the third piece is the huge east window over the Chapel of the New Jerusalem. This truly awe-inspiring, luminous, engaging, modern work of art has captivated me for some 25 years. It pictures the majestic descent of a Utopian city in an explosion of colour and light, masterfully crafted by… Read More »Through a glass, darkly