PROGRAM NOTES: Canadian Celebration
When I was asked to compose a piece to help commemorate Canada's 150th birthday (or sesquicentennial of Canadian Confederation) I looked to two songs that are, and were importnant songs in the history of Canada. The first is the famous Canadian national antham "O Canada" composed in 1880 in Quebec City by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier (words) and Calixa Lavallée (music). Origially called "Chant national" it first gained popularity in French Canada before spreading across the county and acquiring English lyrics in 1908 written by Robert Stanley Weir. The second song is "The Maple Leaf Forever", which was composed 13 years earlier than "O Canada" in 1867 (the year of Confederation) by Alexander Muir .
Canadian Celebration opens with melodic quotes from "O Canada" and then builds into a lively, celebratory piece. The middle section, makes use of "The Maple Leaf Forever" interspersed with energetic rhythmic figures. The piece then returns to the orignal material and then states the most direct quote of "O Canada" before wrapping up the piece with a flourish.
Canadian Celebration was commissioned in 2017 by Judy Diez d'Aux for Les flûtistes de Montréal in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Canada. It was premeired in Montréal, PQ on June 4, 2017 by Les flûtes de Montréal and Flute Street flute choirs.
Duration: c. 6 minutes
Canadian Celebration opens with melodic quotes from "O Canada" and then builds into a lively, celebratory piece. The middle section, makes use of "The Maple Leaf Forever" interspersed with energetic rhythmic figures. The piece then returns to the orignal material and then states the most direct quote of "O Canada" before wrapping up the piece with a flourish.
Canadian Celebration was commissioned in 2017 by Judy Diez d'Aux for Les flûtistes de Montréal in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Canada. It was premeired in Montréal, PQ on June 4, 2017 by Les flûtes de Montréal and Flute Street flute choirs.
Duration: c. 6 minutes
--- Peter Senchuk