Available now for your online "flip-through" reading pleasure, The WholeNote Volume 28 no.2. For Openers, my uncle had a barn; then: Trichy Sankaran at 80; the return of the professional chamber choir; what makes music theatre more than just theatre; how to fit three violin concerti into one concert; and more.
Left to right: Trichy
Left to right: Trichy Sankaran (mridangam) in concert with vocalist Sandeep Narayanan, an unknown tambura player and violinist V.V.S. Murari at the Canada Kanthaswamy Temple, October 8, 2022. (Note:the tambura player in Carnatic music is often a student or community member. They are usually not announced in advance and are uncredited – as in the case of this concert.) ANDREW TIMAR (percussion); Bill Parsons (guitar/kacapi), Russell Hartenberger (percussion), Ken Shorley (percussion) plus Trichy Sankaran. I’m also making an appearance as compiler and suling (West Javanese ring flute) player. These musicians were chosen because they represent various projects in Sankaran’s long, illustrious career. For example, Hartenberger of NEXUS was a member of the percussion super group World Drums with which Sankaran toured internationally for years. Hartenberger will lead the ensemble in Steve Reich’s 1972 minimalist masterwork Clapping Music. Bill Parsons and I represent Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan for whom Sankaran composed groundbreaking works fusing Indonesian and Indian musics. While Members of Autorickshaw alongside Ken Shorley, Andrew Craig and Curtis Andrews are all former students and Sankaran collaborators, this concert marks the first time they’re together on stage. There will also be a pre-concert chat followed by a 10-minute video detailing Sankaran’s biography with musical illustrations. Full circle On October 8, 2022 Sterling Beckwith spoke at the Sankaran @ 80 Felicitation event at the Canada Kanthaswamy Temple in Scarborough. “Sankaran has never failed to honour his roots, even while his circle of influence grows ever wider” Beckwith said. “His artistry in performance is always surprising, always responsive, always appropriate. His appearances around the world have won him the highest professional recognition as the very model of an authentic classical Carnatic virtuoso. At the ripe age of 80, he shows no signs of slowing down. Indeed, he’s still touring, still exploring new challenges, still going strong... “Who needs Trichy Sankaran?” A pause. “We all do!” Andrew Timar is a Toronto musician, composer and music journalist. He can be contacted at worldmusic@thewholenote.com. ECHOES OF THE MOUNTAINS BY DUO-PERSE INCA NOVEMBER 26 AT 8PM ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE TORONTO 10 | November 1 - December13, 2022 thewholenote.com
• IN-PERSON FOR 2022 • City CAROL SING In collaboration with SATURDAY DECEMBER 3 – 3:00pm YORKMINSTER PARK BAPTIST CHURCH 1585 Yonge St. (1 block north of St. Clair Ave.) HOST Dina Pugliese SPECIAL GUESTS Loreena McKennitt AND Toronto Mass Choir FEATURING HOGTOWN BRASS Bach Children’s Chorus Yorkminster Park Choir Hedgerow Singers ADMISSION FREE A collection will be taken for the Churches on-the-Hill Food Bank Yorkminster Park Baptist Church YORKMINSTERPARK.COM | 9SPARROWSARTS.ORG thewholenote.com November 1 - December13, 2022 | 11
