LA PATRIE – OUR CANADA
Canadian Orchestral Music 1874-1943 – Musique orchestrale canadienne
Symphonova Orchestra
Shelley Katz, symphonist
A musical celebration of past and future:
Canadian Classical Heritage meets cutting-edge technologies
As Canada celebrates its 150th year, Centrediscs presents a sound document of eight decades of symphonic composition by Canadian composers. Curated by Professor Elaine Keillor C.M., the CD includes eight works published by the Canadian Musical Heritage Society that have not been previously recorded on CD and rarely performed. A debut recording by the pioneering Symphonova Orchestra, the CD is a celebration of technological innovation in the service of the classical-music heritage.
Canadian music advocate, pianist and musicologist Elaine Keillor C.M., joins forces with Julliard graduate, pianist, conductor and music-technologist Shelley Katz and his innovative Symphonova Orchestra to celebrate Canada’s Sesquicentennial with a recording featuring works by Canadian composers. Repertoire includes a selection of works by Calixa Lavallée, Clarence Lucas, Rodolphe Mathieu, Ernest MacMillan, Murray Adaskin, Violet Archer, Georges-Émile Tanguay and John Weinzweig.
The Symphonova is, without exaggeration, a first-of-its-kind: by using a collection of cutting-edge technologies, a small ensemble led by a conductor creates the full symphonic sound and musical experience of a large orchestra – anywhere. The technologies include virtual acoustics, a system capable of transforming venues into versatile and superior concert spaces, a newly-developed conducting wand that enables the conductor to fully control timing and expression of the virtual instruments, and Instrumental Loudspeakers, a unique method for authentic sound propagation by converting actual musical instruments into loudspeakers, which are used to augment the sound of the musicians. From a musical perspective, Symphonova’s small setting enables a chamber-music approach to the biggest and most challenging scores. With its unique constellation combining artistry and technological advancement, Symphonova is now a reality that opens new and exciting opportunities for musicians and audiences.
The CD will be launch at the CMC location —-on Thursday 28 June 2018 time— with an illustrative talk by Shelley Katz, who will present some of Symphonova technologies and discuss its vision.
With this new recording, Canadian born conductor Shelley Katz offers his fellow Canadians the chance to discover and enjoy a legacy of artistic endeavour in symphonic sound, composed during the first eight decades of the country’s existence. The Symphonova looks forward to sharing the recording with audiences world-wide. www.symphonova.com
Calixa Lavallée – La Patrie (1874)
Clarence Lucas: Overture Macbeth (ca. 1900)
Rodolphe Mathieu: Trois Préludes (between 1912 and 1915)
Ernest MacMillan: Overture (1924)
Murray Adaskin – Serenade for Strings (1934)
Violet Archer – Capriccio for Hand Timpani (1939)
Georges-Émile Tanguay – Pavane (1936)
John Weinzweig – Suite: Our Canada (1943)
