The National Arts Centre presents "Made in Canada"

BC Emma007 from Surrey , March 16, 2010

Last night, young and old alike gathered at UBC’s Chan Centre to experience what I would call a “musical mosaic” of Canada. Featuring five Canadian composers and a diverse group of performers, the night was sure to be inspiring and magical. The event was elevated to star-worthy status when the hosts introduced three of the composers who were in the audience; Alexina Louie, Stephen Chatman and Kati Agocs. The stage was simply set and a projection screen mounted above the stage allowed for the incorporation of pictures and videos.

The opening choral ensemble, The Capilano University Singers, sang a beautiful rendition of R. Murray Schafer’s “Miniwanka”. Schafer is truly at the forefront of new Canadian music. He has written operas to be performed outdoors only, a work for snowmobile and orchestra and even a piece to be played in a canoe! How Canadian, eh?

Next on the program was “Elysium”, written by Kati Agocs. This piece was accompanied by recordings of people talking about shipwrecks off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. The music conveyed an eerie sense of grief and mourning, but also the power and danger of the ocean.

Then I was fortunate enough to be introduced to the work of Andre Mathieu, a Canadian composer I had never heard of before, despite my 12 years of piano study. Alain Lefevre, international piano performer, played Mathieu’s “Prelude Romantique No. 5”. This piece was composed when Mathieu was eleven years old, and the melodic themes were reminiscent of the simplistic beauty of Chopin. The “Concerto de Quebec” was also very accurate in to its title, with a melody consisting of grand chords and an arpeggio-like left hand providing a lilting feeling. It reminded me of a ball, with women in big skirts being twirled by men in uniform. At the end, I couldn’t help thinking, how come I’ve never heard this before!?

After the pleasant intermission, the audience sat back down only to be amazed by the music of Alexina Louie and Stephen Chatman, probably the two most prominent composers in Canada. Highlights including the UBC University choir singing Chatman’s “Remember”. They sang it from behind the audience, on a balcony. This allowed people to sit back, relax and close their eyes. Focusing on the just the sound and harmony was quite the experience. Louie’s “Take the Dog Sled” wrapped up the concert. The seven parts of this work were all entertaining in their own right, but one movement incorporated a great touch of humour when the percussionist pretended to swat a mosquito with one of his instruments! The work also featured throat singing, which sounded very primal and really added to the whole theme of a journey by dog sled.

The concert provided the audience with a broad range of cultural experience. It is a point of pride that Canadians are so diverse. Complements to the National Art Centre Orchestra and all the people behind the curtains, who organized this event that truly brought the musical scene of Canada together under one roof, for all to see!