We’re delighted to hand over to guest curator Elizabeth Knudson for a Special Edition Playlist, our very first international one! Many thanks Elizabeth, for taking the time to bring together these wonderful composers and their works. We’ll be putting the spotlight on these composers and their works over the next week, in the lead-up to July 1st, which happens to be Canada Day.

I’d like to thank Lisa and Peggy for asking me to be guest curator of the first all-Canadian edition of “Making Waves”. I’ve done my best to include some composers I really respect, and whose music I enjoy listening to. The common thread here – which I think is representative of Canadian society and culture – is the fact that its beauty lies in its diversity. In the next hour, you will hear everything from a work for solo electric guitar, to a chamber choir with solo cello, to an orchestral piece inspired by traditional Balkan music. Each composer’s work offers something unique to explore. I hope this serves as an enticing introduction to some of the wonderful contemporary music being created here in Canada. In addition to the composers’ website links (which are definitely worth checking out), another excellent resource to learn more about Canadian composers and their music is the Canadian Music Centre. Best wishes from Vancouver, Canada – and enjoy the music! – Elizabeth Knudson

YouTube

Rodney Sharman, Incantation
For solo bassoon, harp and string quartet. For Kathleen McLean.

If you want to check out the work in more detail, there is a button at the bottom right of the picture taking you directly through to YouTube.

Soundcloud

Hear something that catches your attention? To find out more about a musical work, click on the track name in the playlist and then again on ‘view track’. To find out more about a particular composer, click on their name in the ‘Details’ section below.

1. Jeffrey Ryan, Quantum Mechanics: Fission
   For string quartet.
   
2. Nicole Lizée, Modern Hearts
   For electric guitar. Performed by Adrian Verdejo.
3. Jennifer Butler, North
   For solo flute. Performed by Jennifer Butler.
   
4. Jocelyn Morlock, Exaudi
   For solo cello and chamber choir. Performed by Ariel Barnes and musica intima.
   
5. James O’Callaghan, Isomorphic
   An acousmatic piece.
   
6. Elizabeth Knudson, Tides
   For orchestra. Premiered by Orkestra Simfonike e RTSH (Albanian Radio-Television Orchestra), Bujar Llapaj, guest conductor, at the Academy of Arts, Tirana, Albania, 21 March, 2013.
   

We’d love to hear about your listening experience! Share your thoughts or send messages of support to our featured composers and performers in the comment box below. We also encourage you to click through to Soundcloud to like, comment and subscribe to Making Waves as well as the composers, performers, and presenters featured.

The Canadian Waves Special Edition playlist will be featured intensively over the last week of June 2016, and will remain on our blog archives for the life of the project in the Special Editions section.

We’re really excited about the prospect of inspiring some international dialogue, collaborations, and/or fandom.  If you’re an international listener to Making Waves, you might like to propose guest curation of a future Special Edition yourself? Contact us with your ideas.

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