Colin Eatock: Choral and Orchestral Music

“Ashes of Soldiers began its life as a chamber work for soprano, clarinet, and piano. At the suggestion of Toronto artists’ manager Ann Summers Dossena, I subsequently orchestrated the piece, replacing the piano with strings and harp. The piece is in two movements: the first is for the instrumental ensemble only; in the second, a soprano is added. Thematically, the two movements – which are performed without pause – are closely related. Rather than composing two contrasting, discrete pieces, my intention was to make the second movement a continuation and development of the musical ideas introduced in the first. The text is based on a poem by Walt Whitman, from his collection Leaves of Grass. Despite the poem’s specific setting in the Civil War-era United States, its theme is universal: the mourning of all soldiers who have died in battle, regardless of their allegiances. Ashes of Soldiers is dedicated to my father, Alan James Eatock, who was a soldier at one point in his life, and who passed away in 2010.” – Colin Eatock

Colin Eatock is a composer who lives in Toronto, Canada. He has written works for choir, chamber ensembles, solo performers and orchestra – many of which have been performed and broadcast in Canada, the US and Europe. His first CD, Colin Eatock: Chamber Music, was released on the Canadian Music Centre’s Centrediscs label in 2012.

Sinfonia Toronto, founded in 1998, has toured twice in Europe, in the US, South America and China, receiving glowing reviews, and has released four CDs, including a Juno Award winner. Under the baton of Nurhan Arman, the orchestra tours in Ontario from Brockville to Sarnia, Barrie to Sault Ste. Marie. Sinfonia Toronto’s extensive repertoire includes all the major string orchestra works of the 18th through 21st centuries, and it has premiered many new works. The orchestra’s performances present outstanding international guest artists and prominent Canadian musicians.

Founded in 2010 by Soundstreams’ Artistic Director, Lawrence Cherney, Soundstreams’ Choir 21 is a group of singers selected by Music Director David Fallis and drawn from a rich pool of professional choristers in Toronto. In addition to regular concerts with Soundstreams, this choir has been engaged by organizations as diverse as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto International Film Festival, and has performed under such renowned guest conductors as James MacMillan, Tõnu Kaljuste and Péter Eötvös.

1. Ashes of Soldiers (2010–2012) [10:19]
Lynn Anoush Isnar, soprano; Kornel Wolak, clarinet; Phoebe Powell, harp; Sinfonia Toronto; Nurhan Arman conducting2. The Lord Is Risen (2021) [2:28]
Nicholas Nicolaidis, tenor; Steven Woomert, trumpet; Soundstreams’ Choir 21; David Fallis conducting3. In the Bleak Mid-Winter (1998) [3:45]
Soundstreams’ Choir 21; David Fallis conducting

4. Cast Off All Doubtful Care (2012) [3:50]
Robert Busiakiewicz, tenor; Soundstreams’ Choir 21; David Fallis conducting

5–7. Three Poems by Amy Lowell (2018) [7:13]
Soundstreams’ Choir 21; David Fallis conducting

8–10. Three Psalms (2018) [9:15]
Soundstreams’ Choir 21; David Fallis conducting

11. Benedictus es: Alleluia (2018) [4:03]
Cory Knight, tenor; Soundstreams’ Choir 21; David Fallis conducting

12–13. Two Poems by Walt Whitman (2017) [7:18]
Soundstreams’ Choir 21; David Fallis conducting

14. Out of My Deeper Heart (2015) [6:22]
Paul Widner, cello; Soundstreams’ Choir 21; David Fallis conducting

15–17. Sinfonietta (1999) [14:27]
Sinfonia Toronto; Nurhan Arman conducting