This recording is part of the Centrediscs’ Canadian Composers Portraits series which documents the emergence of a generation of pioneering professional composers who firmly established Canada’s place on the world’s musical map. Each release in this retrospective of the last fifty years is dedicated to a single composer and uniquely combines full-length documentaries on the composers’ lives and music, as well as a selection of their most important works.

CD 1

Beckwith documentary produced and prepared by Eitan Cornfield

Documentaire sur Beckwith produit et présenté par Eitan Cornfield

CD 2

1-6. The Trumpets of Summer

(text by/texte de: Margaret Atwood)

7. Taking a Stand

8-14. Synthetic Trios

15-20. Stacey

(text by/texte de: Margaret Laurence)

View the English transcription of the documentary.

Voir la traduction française de la transcription du documentaire.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier du ministère du Patrimoine canadien.

PERFORMERS:

Harolde Burke (speaker / narrateur); Mary Morrison (soprano); Patricia Rideout (contralto); Donald Bartle (tenor / ténor); Alexander Gray (baritone / baryton); Robert Aitken (flute / flûte); Norman Tobias (bassoon / basson); Joseph Umbrico (trumpet / trompette); Donald Wherry (percussion); Judy Loman (harp / harpe); Ronald Laurie (cello / violoncelle); Festival Singers of Canada; Elmer Iseler (conductor / chef d’ensemble)
The Canadian Brass: Ronald Romm & Fred Mills (trumpets / trompettes); Graeme Page (French horn / cor); Eugene Watts (trombone); Charles Daellenbach (tuba)
Therese Costes (soprano); Connie Gitlin (clarinet / clarinette); Delores Kay-Hee (piano)
Monica Whicher (soprano); Stephen Ralls (piano).