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Volume 5 Issue 1 - September 1999

  • Text
  • Toronto
  • September
  • Theatre
  • Concerts
  • October
  • Symphony
  • Choir
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  • Festival
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Qy VEY! As the last

Qy VEY! As the last concert season of the millennium gets under way, Hear and Now looks at what's in store for the new music afficianado. Right off the bat is Harbourfront's Ashkenaz: A Festival of Yiddish Culture with more than two dozen events between Sept I and 6. Of particular interest to contemporary ears is the Ashkenaz Orchestra Project, which will perform on September I and 2. The 20 piece orchestra led by Robert W. Stevenson will present Canada Council commissions by David Buchbinder and Paul Neufeld, along with works by Ernie Toller, Frank London, David Harris and Matt Darriau, at the Brigantine Room. PICTURES AT THE GALLERY While many organizations don't start their seasons in earnest until October, the Music GaUery is a notable exception. The Gallery's The Composer Now series kicks off on Sunday September IO as Man: Sabat and Stephen Clarke celebrate the release of their Hat[now]ART compact disc "James Tenney, Music for Violin and Piano" with a performance of the CD in its entirety. On September I7 & I8 the series continues with Robert W. Stevenson's This Happy Clan. The final offering of the month in this particular series takes place on Sept 26 when the Modern Quartet performs an afternoon program which includes the premiere of "Buds", commissioned from Canadian composer John Abram, and works by Walter Zimmermann (Germany), Judith Weir (Scotland) and Gerald Barry (Ireland). The Music Gallery also hosts The Piano Series which begins Oct. I with the. up-andcoming young composer/pianist Heather Schmidt in a rare Toronto appearance. One final note, the Music Gallery's What Next gets under way on Oct. 3 as the Evergreen Club Gamelan Ensemble presents Moving Images In Concert. BAcK To ScHooL On Sept. I9 the Chapel at Victoria University will be the Yuri Zaidenberg site of a concert entitled In Memoriam Alfred Schnittke. Youri Zaidenberg and Stephen Clarke will present the complete works for violin & piano of this recently deceased Russian master. And on Sept. 26 the Ettore Mazzoleni Concert Hall at the Royal ConServatory of Music is the venue for the launch of a new series, Chamber Music Unlimited. Pianist Andrew Burashko will be joined by sopnino Barbara Hannigan, percussionist Beverley Johnston, dancer Peggy Baker, ISO principals Steven Dann and Joel Quarrington in a program entitled "Fascinatin' Rhythm" featuring music by Courrier, Cage, Gershwin, Crumb and Lieberson. And one last institutional note: On Sept 30 at Walter Hall in the Edward Johnson Building at University of Toronto cellist Simon Fryer and pianist Lydia Wong will perform music of Gary Kulesha, Iannis Xenakis and Larysa Kuzmenko in a free noonhour recital. BARGAINS GALORE! As we look ahead to the upcoming season I'd like to point out that two important initiatives of the Canadian Music Centre's . Ontario Region will be in effect again this year, Cheapseats and Composer Companions. The Cheapseats program allows students to purchase a pass which enables them to attend concerts featuring 20th (and presumably 21st) century repertoire presented by 18 different Toronto organizations for a flat rate of . Students a calendar detailing the season offerings, a resource kit, plus a 20% discount on CDs sold through the Canadian Music Centre. The pass also serves as a "frequent attender" card, earning "Ear Miles" toward free tickets to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. NEED A DATE? The CMC's Composer Companions program matches curious audience members with professional composers who attend concerts and act as personal tour guides to help demystify contemporary music .. Tickets for these composer "ambassadors" are provided by the participating new music presenters. While Cheapseats is only open to students, Composer Companions will be provided for interested listeners of all ages. To participate in either of the programs call the Canadian Music Centre at (416) 961-6601, or visit the CMC website @ www.musiccentre.ca. TUNE IN, TURN ON ••• In addition to its home in cyberspace the Canadian Music Centre also enjoys a presence on the airwaves in Toronto. The CMC's radio program Canadian Currents is heard on CJRT-FM 91.1 on Sundays at 6:00pm. Although national in scope, the program will be somewhat Torontocentric this month and next. September 5: A Portrait of Alexina Louie. September 12: The Esprit Orchestra performs music of Colin McPhee, Istvan · Anhalt and Chris Paul Harman. by David Olds September I9: A Portrait of Ann Southam. September 26: Four Toronto Presenters: New Music Concerts, Arraymusic, the Evergreen Club Gamelan Ensemble and Continuum. October 3: A Portrait of John Weinzweig. October l 0: Selections from the soon-to-bereleased Centrediscs recording "Elmer lseler Conducts Canadian Music". THE FESTIVAL FORMERLY KNOWN AS ••• A highlight in Toronto's contemporary concert scene again this fall -will be the Massey HaU New Music Festival, previously called Made in Canada. Eight Toronto organizations and a host of soloists will be featured in the week-long event November I4- l9. Alex Pauk and the Esprit Orchestra will kick off the festival with a tribute to the late, great Canadian composer and champion of contemporary culture Harry Somers, the man who invited audiences to "enter the 20th century before you leave it". This may be your last chance! The all-Somers program will also feature mezzo-soprano Jean Stilwell and pianist James Parker. The other participating groups include Continuum, the Hannaford Street Silver Band with the Amadeus Choir, the Encounters Chamber Ensemble with Valdine Anderson, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra with the Elmer lseler Singers and violinist Jacques Israelievitch, and New Music Concerts. An all inclusive festival pass will be available from the Massey Hall Box Office for . Look for full details in the November issue of WholeNote. ARE YOU Y2K COMPATIBLE? One final teaser as we approach the Y2K. Music Canada Musique 2000, A Celebration of the Canadian Composer is an umbrella organization under the artistic direction of Nicolas Goldschmidt who tells us "In this unique celebration, composers throughout Canada, working in a wide variety of musical genres, will be commissioned to create Hear and Now continues on page 45

Dazz Notes The long, hot summer is winding down, the festival season is pretty well over and listening to music outdoors will soon be a fond memory. Looking back, it was a very active musical scene throughout the season with, it seemed, a jazz festival round every corner. Now the great indoors awaits us - but not quite yet. The 6th Annual Guelph Jazz Festival will be held from September 9th to 12th. It is a four day feast of contemporary jazz featuring the trio of drummer Han Bennink, pianist Misha Mengelberg and trumpeter Dave Douglas. Also appearing will be bassist William Parker, clarinet virtuoso Francois Houle, David Mott in a trio setting with bassist Mark Dresser and drummer Gerry Hemingway, the Montreal group of Jean Derome and les dangereux zohms and Ernest Dawkins' Chicago-based group New Horizons Ensemble. For detailed information you can call 519-763-4952 or check out jazzfest@uoguelph.ca. Non-event: What should have been the biggest jazz event of the month has become the biggest non-event of the season. The jazz community was eagerly awaiting the much heralded Oscar Peterson Swing Night, scheduled for a Toronto appearance on September 17th and 18th as part of a North American tour. Unfortunately for all concerned, the tour was abruptly cancelled in late August because of differences between the promoters and Mr. Peterson. Pity - for it had every promise of being a great package the likes of which probably has not ,been seen since the glory days of JATP. ( That's Jazz At The Philharmonic for those of you too young to remember Norman Grantz). If it is any consolation, Oscar will be at Roy Thomson Hall next April. But what a pity this one didn't happen. • All of you who shelled out 0.00 for tickets will have to settle for slimmer put less expensive pickings this month. For example you might just want to catch Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes and his Quintet on September 30th., 8.00p.m. at Roy Thomson Hall. He is an exciting by Jim Galloway performer with a dazzling technique - indoor fireworks are guaranteed. Tickets are .50, .50 and .50. 416-872- 4255. Jazz at RY at Royal York Road United Church, 851 Royal York Road, Etobicoke will present the Richard Whiteman Duo, with David Occhipinti, guitar on Sunday September 26th at 2.00p.m. Tickets are .00, students and seniors .00. For more information call Bill Wilson at 416-231-1207. Health clubs? There is the usual healthy club scene throughout Toronto, gearing up for the fall. For example, if you like it straight ahead and swinging, look out for New York trumpeter Spanky Davis at the Montreal Bistro from September 21st to 25th. The Bistro, Top 0' The Senator and The Rex all have interesting line-ups, so, you see, there is some consolation when the evenings begin to get a little nippy. At least the music will be hot! Jazz programming on CJRT has undergone a couple of changes. You can now enjoy an extra hour of Ted O'Reilly each week day, with the show being extended to 7.00 p.m. The other change, and quite significant at that, is in the Saturday morning show, Ted has passed that time slot over to saxophonist/broadcaster Doug Watson. Best wishes to Doug, and Ted, I promise I won't phone you too early on a Saturday morning! fii]andstand will be back John McGuigan explains This will be my last column until January · as I have accepted an advisory position at the University of Lima Peru and will be out of the country until December. If I find some interesting bands or wind concerts in Peru I will write! Meanwhile, have a great fall of music listening and playing. And here are a couple of parting thoughts. In the coming season of concerts, two jumped out at me. First, the famous Black Dyke Band will perform a concert on February 7th 2000 at the John Grabb Theatre, Cedarbrae Collegiate, sponsored by the Hannaford Street Silver Band. This is their first appearance in Canada for over 30 years. Fuelled by their constant string of succes~ul m·usic concerts and recordings since 1955 (and rehearsing in the same band room TRACEY WILKINS JAZZ VOCALIST AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE FUNCTIONS ABSOLUTE SOUNDS PHONE (416) 767-9451 FAX (416) 767-2476 Absounds@interlog.com all th~t time) this is one wonderful band. It is an event not to be missed by band fans. Information can be obtained from the HSSB at 416-366-7723. And second, there will be a great free concert by the veterans of the swing bands of the 40's and 50's to launch the new CD "Swing Canada Volume 3". This event will take place at the Don Mills Centre September 24 from 6 - 9 pm. This volume is a project of Glen Woodcock of CJRT and will be as popular as the original two volumes. Come out and hear the big band of veterans led by Paul Grosney at the centre. Swing is alive. Contemporary Jazz Quartet . Bob Brougo~stan Forni Chris Jennings/Mark Adam Mondays 8:00 PM the Rockit 120 Church at Richmond No Cover Duo Dinner Music Bob Brough/Stan Forni Tuesdays 7:00 PM Le Saint Tropez 315 King Street W. No Cover Phone Bob at 763-6703 Classical & Jazz Radio Toronto! 24-hour member-supported radio! Program Highlights II lit BBC NEWS Daily Cfassica{Music Mon.-Fri. 1 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun. 1 a.m. to 7 p.m. including: 1!iar Ill ~us it Records in Review Opera "Canadian Currents" with David Olds Sun. 6-7p.m. JAZZ "The Jazz Scene" with Ted O'Reilly Mon.-Fri. 3-6 p.m. Sat. 6 a.m.-Noon, 7-10 p.m. "Jazz with Bob Parlocha" Mon.-Fri. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Sun. 10 p.m.-1 a.m. "Night Beat" with Mary Lou Creechan Sat. 10 p.m -1 a.m. PLUS •.• Big Bands, Swing, Folk, Blues & World Music Telephone: 416-595-0404 1-888-595-0404 Website: www.cjrt.fm

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