Shattering the Silence 3
02/02/09 08:51 Filed in: Music
The Third Annual Acadia New Music Festival, Shattering the Silence 2009 was a success!
Thanks to everyone who was a part of this years festival. I'd especially like to thank the many volunteers who worked behind the scenes to make this happen, and of course all of the performers and composers who did a phenomenal job!
All told there were 6 full concerts, two lecture presentations by Jeff Hennessy and Russell Hartenberger, 2 composer master classes, including one by Ian Crutchley, a percussion master class with Dr. Hartenberger and a film on Elliott Carter. We only had one weather cancellation on the second morning but we rescheduled and managed to pull it all off. All the events went smoothly, and all had something special to offer. Audience turn out was WAY up this year which makes me believe we're starting to get the word out about new music in the Annapolis Valley!
The percussion ensemble played extremely well on Wednesday, probably the best I've ever heard them yet. The Thursday concert was perhaps the most eclectic but also the most exciting with such a diverse array of talent; the vocal ensemble, symphonic band and various faculty and student performances. The Acadia String Ensemble played a moving rendition of Charles Ives's the Unanswered Question. Also thanks to Ron Tomarelli for the Prokoviev and Ken Shorley for his work. The Friday concert was fun to play in. It was refreshing to be able to present Raga Cha the way it's supposed to sound, with a loud amplified flute quartet. The Wind Ensemble did an admirable job in their first performance of Lollapalooza and I'm excited to hear it again.
The Gala concert was remarkable. The performers did an excellent job on all the pieces, especially Zwilich's Trio, and I was particularly moved to hear John Luther Adams' work, The Farthest Place, performed to such an exacting standard. Chenoa Anderson sounded great on my new work, even though it took a second try to get the computer to cooperate! D'Arcy Gray pulled off Bone Alphabet with finesse. Can't forget Bob Bauer who wrote us a wonderful new gamelan inspired work, and Simon Docking who graced us with a performance of music by Tristan Murail. I'll announce as soon as I can when CBC Radio 2 is going to broadcast parts of this concert on the Signal.
Also thanks to all student composers, both in the emerging composers concert and in the CMC sponsored film event. There were many promising new works and many positive comments about the quality of writing. Plus thanks to all of the ensembles and solo performers who took time to learn and play such wonderful music for our festival this year.
I am particularly grateful to Russell Hartenberger for giving his time so graciously, also to Mark Adam for his tireless contributions, even with a full on cold.
Finally I must also thank my co-conspirator Mark Hopkins for all of his work in organizing and conducting. We're both looking forward to doing it all again this time next year!
Cheers, Derek
Thanks to everyone who was a part of this years festival. I'd especially like to thank the many volunteers who worked behind the scenes to make this happen, and of course all of the performers and composers who did a phenomenal job!
All told there were 6 full concerts, two lecture presentations by Jeff Hennessy and Russell Hartenberger, 2 composer master classes, including one by Ian Crutchley, a percussion master class with Dr. Hartenberger and a film on Elliott Carter. We only had one weather cancellation on the second morning but we rescheduled and managed to pull it all off. All the events went smoothly, and all had something special to offer. Audience turn out was WAY up this year which makes me believe we're starting to get the word out about new music in the Annapolis Valley!
The percussion ensemble played extremely well on Wednesday, probably the best I've ever heard them yet. The Thursday concert was perhaps the most eclectic but also the most exciting with such a diverse array of talent; the vocal ensemble, symphonic band and various faculty and student performances. The Acadia String Ensemble played a moving rendition of Charles Ives's the Unanswered Question. Also thanks to Ron Tomarelli for the Prokoviev and Ken Shorley for his work. The Friday concert was fun to play in. It was refreshing to be able to present Raga Cha the way it's supposed to sound, with a loud amplified flute quartet. The Wind Ensemble did an admirable job in their first performance of Lollapalooza and I'm excited to hear it again.
The Gala concert was remarkable. The performers did an excellent job on all the pieces, especially Zwilich's Trio, and I was particularly moved to hear John Luther Adams' work, The Farthest Place, performed to such an exacting standard. Chenoa Anderson sounded great on my new work, even though it took a second try to get the computer to cooperate! D'Arcy Gray pulled off Bone Alphabet with finesse. Can't forget Bob Bauer who wrote us a wonderful new gamelan inspired work, and Simon Docking who graced us with a performance of music by Tristan Murail. I'll announce as soon as I can when CBC Radio 2 is going to broadcast parts of this concert on the Signal.
Also thanks to all student composers, both in the emerging composers concert and in the CMC sponsored film event. There were many promising new works and many positive comments about the quality of writing. Plus thanks to all of the ensembles and solo performers who took time to learn and play such wonderful music for our festival this year.
I am particularly grateful to Russell Hartenberger for giving his time so graciously, also to Mark Adam for his tireless contributions, even with a full on cold.
Finally I must also thank my co-conspirator Mark Hopkins for all of his work in organizing and conducting. We're both looking forward to doing it all again this time next year!
Cheers, Derek
