Cantata Singers of Ottawa
Home > Season > 2005 - 2006 (42nd Season) > A Canadian Soundscape (27 May 2006) Content updated 17 May 2006

Concert Notes from Our Music Director, Michael Zaugg
Michael Zaugg, Music Director Concert poster

The last performance of our 2005–2006 season is the first concert in a multi-year series entitled Soundscapes. In this concert, we present a wide selection of Canadian music that shows different perspectives of our sonourous heritage.

Harry Freedman's Keewaydin and R. Murray Schafer's Magic Songs create Landscapes of sound that are full of surprises. You will hear Bears dance, the splashing of clear Water, the howl of Wolfs, and even the most Canadian sound of all, that of the Loon, all mixed in with the drumming of the Inuit drum and dance group Siqiniup Qilauta.

Excerpts from Stephen Chatman's Due West and Due North suites bring nature in a more common—and humourous—form to the stage. Here, our selection of folksongs features famous melodies from out West. Rounding out our choral tour is the French Canadian song, J'entends le moulin.

To round out this concert of Canadian music, we've invited the champion fiddlers Tessa and Ella Bangs to join us!

When we performed this concert on Friday, May 19, for the young musicians gathered in Ottawa from across Canada for MusicFest Canada, it is not an understatement to say that the audience members were off their seats as they listened to the choir interweave its singing with the music of the fiddlers and the drummers. The evening was indeed a night of Magic Songs!

Programme
Composition Music by... Lyrics by... Performer(s)

Niel Gow's Lament for the Death of His Second Wife
(music: 1805)

Niel Gow Niel Gow (22 Mar. 1727–1 Mar. 1807)

(Note: this is the correct spelling of "Niel")
  Tessa Bangs, fiddle

The Sea
(music: 1980; lyrics: 1931)

Malcolm Forsyth Malcolm Forsyth (8 Dec. 1936–) Canadian composer Dorothy Parker Dorothy Parker (22 Aug. 1893–7 Jun. 1967)

Cantata Singers of Ottawa, treble voices

Inuit drumming

Siqiniup Qilauta (The Sun's Drums)

 

Siqiniup Qilauta, drums
(Tracy Aasivak Brown,
Emily Arnainnuk Kotierk,
Lynda Qaqasirija Brown,
David Siurjuk Joanasie)

Magic Songs (excerpts)
(music & lyrics: 1988)

(1) Chant to Bring Back the Wolf

(2) Chant to Make the Fences Fall Down

R. Murray Schafer R. Murray Schafer (18 Jul. 1933–) Canadian composer

Cantata Singers of Ottawa

Inuit drumming

Siqiniup Qilauta

 

Siqiniup Qilauta, drums

Magic Songs (excerpts)

(4) Chant for Clear Water

(7) Chant to Make Bears Dance

(8) Chant to Make the Stones Sing

R. Murray Schafer

Cantata Singers of Ottawa

Inuit drumming

Siqiniup Qilauta

 

Siqiniup Qilauta, drums

Keewaydin
(music & lyrics: 1985)

Harry Freedman Harry Freedman (5 Apr. 1922–16 Sep. 2005) Canadian composer

Laura Mennill, soprano

Sharon Keenan-Hayes, soprano

Barbara Ackison, alto

Marie-Lynne Sauvé, alto

Greg Prest, tenor

James Clark, baritone

Karl Mann, loon

Siqiniup Qilauta, drums

Cantata Singers of Ottawa

Intermission
Composition Music by... Lyrics by... Performer(s)

Due West (excerpts)
(music & lyrics: 1997)

Due North (excerpts)
(music & lyrics: 1986)

Stephen Chatman Stephen Chatman (28 Feb. 1950–) Canadian composer  

(1) Sunset (#4 from Due West)

Tara Wohlberg, photo by Aura McKay Tara Wohlberg Canadian composer

Cantata Singers of Ottawa

(2) Woodpecker (#3 from Due North)

Stephen Chatman

Cantata Singers of Ottawa

(3) Mosquitos (#5 from Due North)

Stephen Chatman

Michael Hartney, bass

Cantata Singers of Ottawa

(4) Prairie Lullaby (#2 from Due West)

Tara Wohlberg

Anne-Marie Lozier, soprano

Cantata Singers of Ottawa

J'entends le moulin
(music & lyrics: 2006)

Michael Zaugg Traditional, arr. Michael Zaugg Canadian composer

Marie-Lynne Sauvé, alto

Christopher Mallory, bass

Cantata Singers of Ottawa

Le 24 juin

Philippe Bruneau Philippe Bruneau (22 Sep. 1934–) Canadian composer  

Tessa and Ella Bangs, fiddle & stepdance

Robert Bangs, guitar

Eva's Wedding

Robert Bangs Canadian composer  

Jonah's First Change

Traditional  

Heather Bonn Reel

Graham Townsend Graham Townsend (16 Jun. 1942–) Canadian composer  

Spud Island Breakdown

Cec McEachern Canadian composer  

St. Anne's Reel

Traditional  

Alberta Cowboy Songs
(suite arranged 2001)

Trent Worthington arr. Trent Worthington Canadian composer  

(1) Blood on the Saddle
(music & lyrics: before 1886)

H. Clemons

Cantata Singers of Ottawa

(2) Flunky Jim
(music & lyrics: xxxx<-->)

Dan Ferguson (1875–????) Canadian composer

Len Edwards, baritone

Cantata Singers of Ottawa

(3) Soldier's Cry
(music & lyrics: 2000)

Roland Majeau Roland Majeau Canadian composer

Cantata Singers of Ottawa

(4) The Alberta Homestead
(music & lyrics: about 1922)

Bud Baldwin Canadian composer

James Clark, baritone

Cantata Singers of Ottawa


Canadian composer Canadian   † From Ottawa or surrounding area   ‡ Past or current member of choir