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Taran Plamondon’s Work-in-Progress Receives Workshop

philip.paschke@winspearcentre.com (Robert Rival) — Thu, 09 May 2013 21:50:47 +0000

Each year the ESO selects one (or two) talented students from local high schools to take part in the Young Composers’ Project (YCP). The 2013 winner is Taran Plamondon of Archbishop MacDonald High School. Working under the mentorship of ESO Resident Composer Robert Rival, Taran is writing an original work for orchestra, about five minutes long, to be premiered at the popular Symphony under the Sky festival (August 30 to September 2, 2013 at Hawrelak Park).

On April 24, 2013 Jeremy Spurgeon performed a piano reduction of Taran’s work-in-progress (tentatively entitled Overture) before an invited audience of nearly 50, an opportunity for the composer to receive criticism in a workshop setting. In attendance were patrons, donors, ESO staff and special guests Bob Bernhardt (SUTS Principal Conductor), Lucas Waldin (ESO Community Ambassador and Artist-in-Residence), Allan Gilliland (former ESO Resident Composer) and Michael Spassov (Edmonton Opera Artistic Administrator and Chorus Master).

Listen to Jeremy Spurgeon perform Overture in this live recording from the workshop:

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Here are Taran’s impressions of the workshop:

"The workshop on Wednesday was an extraordinary help to me in the process of finalising the short score version of my work! I’m really grateful to have the opportunity to work with seasoned professional musicians, including Bob Bernhardt, Allan Gilliland, Lucas Waldin and Michael Spassov. I got expert advice on everything from technical details (what is the harmonic function of these notes?) to the artistic and expressive (what mood do you want to convey?) Not only did their suggestions give me ideas as to what I could change about what I’ve written, but also how I could go about writing the last segment of the piece.

Even some of the patrons who had little musical experience had very fascinating opinions to offer. It was especially helpful to have them there, as it allowed me to consider a variety of perspectives. After all, the audience may consist of anyone from contemporary music geeks to the casual symphony-goer. All fancy musical jargon aside, these people had varying ideas of what the piece sounded like to them: ripples on a pond, a gentle autumn breeze scattering the leaves, hang-gliding. All these ideas will help shape the piece, and of course, help me think of a more clever title." -Taran Plamondon

Symphonic Chocolates

philip.paschke@winspearcentre.com (Robert Rival) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:40:59 +0000

Interviews with Composer Maxime Goulet & Chocolatier Carol Logan

In this podcast accompanied by excerpts from the music, Montreal composer Maxime Goulet tells ESO Resident Composer Robert Rival how a visit to a chocolate shop inspired him to write a piece that invites listeners to use not only their ears but also their mouths. Imagine listening to a seductive habanera while dark chocolate melts on your tongue. Edmonton chocolatier Carol Logan of Carol’s Quality Sweets explains how she filled the ESO’s special request. On Friday, May 3, 2013 come to the Winspear Centre to hear the ESO perform the multisensory Symphonic Chocolates: Orchestral Sweets in Four Flavours while savouring a box of four hand-made chocolates. Arrive early to purchase your box in the lobby before the concert.

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Duration: 12:00 minutes.

Young Composer Taran Plamondon Completes Sketch for Orchestral Work

philip.paschke@winspearcentre.com (Robert Rival) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:24:30 +0000

Each year the ESO selects one (or two) talented students from local high schools to take part in the Young Composers’ Project (YCP). The 2013 winner of this competition is Taran Plamondon of Archbishop MacDonald High School. Taran is an accomplished French horn player and on the basis of the portfolio of compositions he submitted, and the work he has undertaken so far, shows great promise as a composer as well.

The ESO’s Composer-in-Residence, Robert Rival, has been meeting with Taran on a regular basis since early February. Taran will write an original work for symphony orchestra, about five minutes long, to be premiered at the orchestra’s popular Symphony Under the Sky festival (Aug. 30 to Sep. 2 at Hawrelak Park). Below, in his own words, are Taran’s impressions of the YCP after two months.

Until this year I had never taken any sort of composition or formal theory lessons; out of sheer interest and the desire to improve my musicianship did I learn about the various elements of composition. I began composing in eighth grade, without the slightest clue of what I was doing. I have developed a lot since then, and learning from someone who has experience first-hand with commissions and world premieres has really helped me grow as a composer. I have learned plenty about instrumentation, voice leading, phrasing, and even page formatting, while retaining the ability to write in a style which is distinctly mine. We have delved in-depth into Beethoven’s First Symphony and one of my personal favourites, Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune, in order to examine harmonic structure, instrumentation choices, and to try to “predict” what the composer’s intentions were.

I go about composing just as many composers do – grab a musical instrument, whether it is the piano or my beloved French horn, and simply play. Through the instrument, I attempt to interpret the music I imagine in my head. I draw inspiration mainly from the people I encounter. I will accumulate several of these ideas and record them as a short score on notation software. When this entire “piano grand-staff” piece is completed, I begin the process of instrumentation. It can be tedious but it is a truly worthwhile process once complete.

My work so far, tentatively titled “Overture,” will be performed by Jeremy Spurgeon at the piano workshop this Wednesday, April 24, 2013. I am really looking forward to hearing feedback on what works and what I could do better. I always appreciate different perspectives as it will present ideas I may not have even considered before. I am truly looking forward to it as well as the upcoming months, where we will begin the meticulous process of shaping it into a grand orchestral work!

Thank you,
Taran Plamondon

Spirit Trail: Interview with Composer Allan Gordon Bell

philip.paschke@winspearcentre.com (Robert Rival) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:58:51 +0000

In 1994, Calgary composer Allan Gordon Bell received a commission from the National Arts Centre Orchestra as part of its 25th-anniversary celebration. Bell composed Spirit Trail and dedicated it to Mario Bernardi who premiered it in April of that year and later recorded it with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra for CBC Records. On April 12 & 13, 2013, come to the Winspear Centre to hear the ESO perform Spirit Trail live.

In this podcast accompanied by excerpts from the music, Allan Gordon Bell tells ESO Resident Composer Robert Rival about the “song maps” of Australian aboriginals, the nature of “aurages” and “auragination”, how he evokes the peculiar soundscapes of western Canada—such as the wind on a cold winter day—with actual whistling, and how he symbolizes the circularity of the prairie landscape. Bell also reflects upon the transformative effect of travel and describes how he experiences the world as music.

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"Torque" by Gary Kulesha: It's fast. Very fast.

info@edmontonsymphony.com (Robert Rival) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 23:19:16 +0000

The exhilarating overture "Torque" by Gary Kulesha opens the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra's program on March 15 and 16. In this 48-second spot find out what sparked Mr. Kulesha's imagination. Produced by Robert Rival, ESO Resident Composer.

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“A Farmer’s Symphony”: Interview with Composer John Estacio

philip.paschke@winspearcentre.com (Robert Rival) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 22:38:41 +0000

In 1994, John Estacio, the ESO’s first resident composer, completed “A Farmer’s Symphony”, his first major commission for the orchestra. The ESO immediately took it on a northern tour and has since performed it many times, recording it in 2004 for CBC Records on an all-Estacio CD. On Sunday, March 3, 2013, the ESO performs it again at the Winspear Centre.

In this podcast accompanied by excerpts from the music, John Estacio tells ESO Resident Composer Robert Rival how growing up on a vegetable farm inspired the piece and how he shaped these experiences into evocative music. Along the way John explains the amorphous atmosphere in the symphony’s opening and its “free-form” notation, how computers have influenced compositional choices, why the first movement avoids a big climax, the importance of the harp in the second movement, and how the fast-paced finale is a portrait of people and machines during the harvest.

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“Steps to Ecstasy”: Interview with Composer Marjan Mozetich

philip.paschke@winspearcentre.com (Robert Rival) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 20:47:14 +0000

In 2002, Toronto-based Tafelmusik, one of world’s great baroque orchestras, premiered the CBC-commissioned Steps to Ecstasy by Canadian composer Marjan Mozetich. The ESO will be the first orchestra to perform it since. On November 23 and 24, 2012 come to the Winspear Centre to hear the version specially adapted for modern orchestra and this occasion.

In this podcast accompanied by excerpts from the music, Marjan Mozetich tells ESO Resident Composer Robert Rival about how Baroque art inspired the piece, the emotional qualities of the Baroque technique called the sequence, his organic approach to composing, and how it’s possible to write a contemporary-sounding piece without using “modern” materials.

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From Sketch to Score

philip.paschke@winspearcentre.com (Robert Rival) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 18:52:39 +0000

Ever wonder how a composer puts together a new piece? In this narrated slideshow, Robert Rival, Composer-in-Residence with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, opens up his sketchbook to explain the creative process behind his latest work, Whirlwind.

Young Composers finish their parts

philip.paschke@winspearcentre.com (Robert Rival) — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 22:28:44 +0000

The ESO's Composer-in-Residence, Robert Rival, has been meeting with the 2012 winners of Young Composers Project (YCP), Daniel Belland (St. Joseph High School) and Samantha Semler (Strathcona High School), since early February. Daniel and Samantha have each written an original work for symphony orchestra that will be premiered at the ESO's popular Symphony Under the Sky festival (Aug. 31 to Sep. 3 at Hawrelak Park). Below, in their own words, are the students' reflections on the last leg of their journey: turning their sketch for piano four hands into a work for full orchestra.

Young Composers Project Update

philip.paschke@winspearcentre.com (Robert Rival) — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 18:43:39 +0000

The ESO's Composer-in-Residence, Robert Rival, has been meeting with the 2012 winners of Young Composers Project (YCP), Daniel Belland (St. Joseph High School) and Samantha Semler (Strathcona High School), since early February. Daniel and Samantha will each write an original work for symphony orchestra to be premiered at the ESO's popular Symphony Under the Sky festival (Aug. 31 to Sep. 3 at Hawrelak Park). On May 15 they performed their works-in-progress in reductions for piano four hands before an invited audience. This workshop gave them an opportunity to receive criticism from a mixed audience in a workshop setting. Below, in their own words, are the students' impressions of the workshop.