Volume 5 Issue 4 - December 1999/January 2000

CMC @4Q BY ALLAN PULKER

CMC @4Q BY ALLAN PULKER The fact that the composition of new music is now thrivjng in Canada has a lot to do with the initiative of a small group of Canadian composers in the decade following the Second World War. Their efforts to establish composition as a recognized and legitimate artistic activity resulted in a ,000 grant in 1959 from the newly formed Canada Coti.ncil to establish a national organization to nurture and support the composition of new music in Canada. This organization, now called the Canadian Mu~ic Centre has fulfilled its mandate with astonishing success. Right: Internationally celebrated virtuoso Robert Aitken, C.M performed the technically , .Jiemanding 'Versegere 'for lirtaccompanied bass flute by CMC Founding Member Jean 'Papineau-Couture, C.C.. Aitken s own 60th birthday -concert had concluded the Massey Hall New Music Festival the night before. Saturday, November 20 the CMC celebrated its 40th anniversary and honoured its founders with a concert at the Ettore Mazzoleni concert hall and a party afterwards at the CMC. The concert featured performances by several outstanding Canadian artists of music by some of our leaditlg composers, the awarding of the 1999 Friends of Canadian Music Photos by Andre Pierre Leduc Award and fascinating story of the beginning of the CMC told by founding member, John Weinzweig. The party that followed was truly a celebration of the national scope of the Canadian Music Centre because the entire national board of directors of the Centre, the staff from all its regional offices as well as composers from across Canada were there.

Previous page, top Dr. S. Timothy Maloney, President of the Canadian Music Centre (left), and Dr. John Burge, President of the Canadian League of Composers (right), presented television producer James Dormeyer of Montreal with the 1999 'Friends of Canadian Music Award'. M Dorm eyer was recognized for his film documentaries on, and creative collaborations with, a number of Canadian composers, most notably Andre Preyost. Above: Many old friends and colleagues had a wonderful - chance to visit at the CMC 's birthday party, including Barbara Chilcott Somers (widow of the late composer Harry Somers, C. C.) and renowned Canadian composer Dr. Peter Paul Koprowski. A special concert by the Esprit · Orchestra honouring the music of Somers served as a Festival opener earlier in the week. DECEMBER1999JANUARY2000 WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 1 CoWBOY BUDDHA I THURSDAY DECEMBER 2 JESSE STEWART I FRIDAY + SATURDAY DECEMBER 3 + 4 HAMPTON AVENUE I &8 MONDAY DECEMBER 6 MONTREAL REMEMBRANCE I TUESDAY DECEMBER 7 CCMC FREE WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8 METROPOLIS I FRIDAY DECEMBER 10 GATEWAY To AWARENESS I SATURDAY DECEMBER 11 CANADIAN ELECTRONIC ENSEMBLE 1, $ ~ )\.\ SUNDAY DECEMBER 12 MAZA MEZE I 2 Sample Issue TUESDAY DECEMBER 14 CCMC WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 15 HERMETIC MUSIC COMMISSION I TUESDAY JANUARY 11 CCMC FREE FREE TUESDAY JANUARY 18 CCMC FREE FRIDAY JANUARY 21 HEATHER SCHMJDT . I TUESDAY JANUARY 25 CCMC FREE FRIDAY JANUARY 28 lAURA WILCOX I .'-"" 179 Richmond St. W. Toronto, ON M5V 1V3 [t]( 416) 977-3546 [f](416) 204-1084 [ e]sound@ musicworks-rnag.com www.musicworks-mag.com SUNDAY JANUARY 30 THE WYRD SISTERS I 179 Richmond Street West (west of University}Concert tix and info: 416.204.1080 All shows 8PM unless otherwise noted_ The lower of two ticket prices for an event applies to artists, students and seniors. Check in at Radio Music Gall ery with Christina Jol and Bruce Russell, Friday, lOAM FAX: 416.204.1084 EMAI L: musicgal @interlog.com www.interlog.com/-musicgal