Canadian Voices
Elektra & Chor Leoni Sing the Musical Richness of Canada!
Spring rains are falling in Vancouver, there's an endless supply of blossoms - what more could you want? Why, fabulous choral music, of course!
Elektra is teaming up with Chor Leoni for our next big concert, Canadian Voices, a concert of entirely Canadian compositions. While the concert touches on works by some of Canada's most respected and established choral composers, Canadian Voices is focused very much on the "now," with a staggering eleven premieres being presented! You'll hear new works for women's choirs, male choir, and in a first for the two ensembles, premieres of new works for mixed choir.
Premieres by Elektra
In the Garden of Shushan by Sheldon Rose.
Toronto composer, Sheldon Rose writes "It is written in the Book of Esther, that King Ahasuerus presided over a great feast at the palace of Shushan. It was on the 7th day, after much revelry and wine it is assumed, that he called upon the chamberlains to fetch his Queen, Vashti, from the royal gardens to appear before him and his guests to "display her beauty" (often translated and interpreted to mean "appear without clothing"). Vashti refused. Fearful that her actions would around the disobedience of other women toward their husbands (and upon suffering his own royal embarrassment) the King had Vashti exiled or possible even executed. Today, her name stands for many as a symbol of resistance to gender tyranny and exploitation.
Changed Forever, words and music by Shari Ulrich, arr. Kate Polsky.
BC singer/songwriter Shari Ulrich has a long list of recordings and performances as a solo artist and as a member of groups such as Pied Pumpkin and Ulrich Henderson Forbes. Shari says of this song "My father-in-law inspired this piece the evening his wife of 40 years passed away. He shared stories about his life with me that he'd never shared with anyone. I felt very privileged. Telling his story expanded into the theme of how birth, death, love, war, and the myriad of life events forever change the lives of those they touch - in an instant." Elektra is delighted to premiere this arrangement by Kate Polsky, one of our own singers.
Let, music by Jocelyn Morlock; poem by Alan Ashton
Let by Vancouver composer Jocelyn Morlock anticipates the arrival of spring. Snow drifts down, gathers and brings renewal to the earth. The music alternates between active sections about the snowflakes and more restful sections, starting with the word "let," which are like a benediction. Let ends with the image of young trees' thirst being slaked by the melting snow, their fresh new growth giving shade and comfort to everyone.
In addition to these stunning new additions to the women's choral repertoire, Elektra is also performing works by R. Murray Schafer, Jeffery Enns, and Stephen Smith, as well as folk songs by Guy Isabelle and Kathleen Allan - and that's just Elektra's solo material! Chor Leoni will also be premiering works by Stephen Smith, Mark Sirett, Jocelyn Morlock, and Les Nerling, plus works by Diane Loomer, Marcus Goddard, and Ron Smail.
Of course, you can't have Elektra and Chor Leoni on the same stage and not have us sing together. We're extremely proud to be premiering 2 new works for mixed (SATB) choir. Ken Cormier has arranged Joni Mitchell's iconic Both Sides Now (the version last heard in the opening of the 2010 Winter Olympics) for 8-part mixed choir. It's both orchestral and vocal, and when we first put it together with the two choirs there were many appreciative "oo and ah's" after the first read through.
We're also pleased to present the premiere of Kristopher Fulton's Orpheus, for mixed choir. Rather than try to tell the entire Orpheus legend, Kristopher chose to focus on those moments when Euridice dies and Orpheus decides he must go down to Hades to return her to the land of the living. Orpheus marks the first time Elektra and Chor Leoni have jointly co-commissioned a work for mixed choir.
Capping off the evening is a segment we're calling "Songs of Canada," with both choirs on stage, singing for each other and together in a set of folk-songs that will have you humming along and your toes tapping. There's even more great music, but we don't want to give it all away here. We are proud to bring you this program of music from our own country. It's a concert of sweeping musical panoramas, personal insights, and musical beauty. Come share it with us as we explore the Canadian musical spirit - and feel free to wear your Olympic red and white!
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster 604.280.3311 or may be ordered through the Elektra office, 604.739.1255.
 Canadian VoicesSaturday, April 10 7:30 pmSunday, April 11 3 pmRyerson United Church2195 W 45th Ave, Vancouver BC$28 | $23 Ticketmaster 604.280.3311Elektra office 604.739.1255
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Of Blogs, Photos & Memories
The latest entry posted to the Elektra blog is a fun look at how people react when they hear that a friend is in Elektra. You can find it (and all the other posts) by clicking on the RSS icon on the Elektra site. (That's the button that looks like this:  ) or you may click on this link.
Elektra at Water's Edge Festival
We were thrilled to sing for the Water's Edge Festival in Coquitlam earlier this month. Water's Edge was our second concert appearance as part of the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad, and photographer, Ian MacDonald was there to take some terrific shots!
You'll find his beautiful photos from the evening in our flickr gallery.
Over the past twenty-two years Elektra has performed in venues ranging from glittering concert halls and soaring churches to quiet rest homes and rehab wards, commissioned many new works that are now being sung by women's choirs all over the world, and established itself as a leader of the women's choir movement. That grand accomplishment happened due to the vision of its co-founders and co-conductors, Diane Loomer, C.M., and Morna Edmundson. Along the way they've gathered a huge number of wonderful memories, captured beautifully in From the Hearth. Why not pour yourself a glass of your favourite beverage and listen in as they share some of those memories and music in From the Hearth?
Elektra couldn't exist without the generous support of people like you; people who believe that choral music is important enough to support. Please consider making a donation to Elektra. |
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Elektra Women's Choir
"To inspire and lead in the choral art form through excellence in performance and the creation, exploration and celebration of women's repertoire."
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Elektra gratefully acknowledges the support of 2010 Legacies Now, Government of British Columbia, City of Vancouver, Canada Council for the Arts, Martha Lou Henley Charitable Foundation, the Hamber Foundation, Nancy's Very Own Foundation, Wolrige Foundation, and BordenLadnerGervais. Elektra also thanks its many generous individual donors and volunteers - their support makes us sing.
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