Avowals

This new recording features works for solo voice and piano by Canadian composer John Beckwith. Drawing on the poetry of e.e. cummings and Canadian writers Margaret Laurence, bpNichol and Miriam Waddington, Beckwith provides the listener with songs both humorous and dramatic. Also featured are some of Beckwith’s wonderful arrangements of traditional Canadian songs sun by baritone Douglas MacNaughton and soprano Teri Dunn, accompanied by William Aide.

This Centrediscs recording was made possible through the financial assistance of William Blissett, Austin Clarkson, Mary Ann and Charles Dunn, Sheila and Cecil Gould, Linda and Michael Hutcheon, Michael M. Koerner, John B. Lawson, Roger D. Moore, Jane and Stephen Smith, Barbara Chilcott Somers, and Jean M. Vantreight.

“Beckwith’s personal voice is a microcosm of the nature of Canada itself: a mosaic of colours expressed in its landscape and its mix of the cultural backgrounds of the people…Avowals focuses on a fine selection of works for solo voice with keyboard accompaniment.”
– Natalie Artemas-Polak, Music & Vision

1-6. Six Songs to poems by e.e. cummings

7-12. Stacey

13. Avowals

14-16. Three Songs to poems by Mariam Waddington

17-22. Arrangements from Canadian song traditions

PERFORMERS:

Doug MacNaughton (baritone/baryton)
William Aide (piano)
Teri Dunn (soprano)
William Aide (piano)
Benjamin Butterfield (tenor/ténor)
Kathryn Domoney (soprano)
William Aide (piano, celeste/célesta, harpsichord/clavecin)