By Joseph Mathieu
Members of Carleton University’s Bachelor of Music program had the rare opportunity to join musicians from China’s Central Conservatory of Music to perform at the National Arts Centre on Sept. 29.
Musicians from the preeminent institute in Beijing began a tour of Canada with the Chinese Music Soirée 2015, a concert of traditional and contemporary Chinese compositions.
“I know that our Chinese guests will remember their visit to Ottawa with great fondness,” said Carleton’s James Wright. “We are deeply grateful to Justin Li and the Confucius Institute for making this collaboration possible, and I hope and expect that, in some way, we will collaborate with the Central Conservatory of Music again in the future.”
Carleton’s ensemble of 25 musicians collaborated on the first live rendition of the recently composed capriccio Beside the Clear Spring, which features themes from a Chinese folk song and three popular Canadian songs. These include the Canadian national anthem, the pop song Halleluiah by Leonard Cohen and the French Canadian folk song À la claire fontaine, which inspired the title.
“The composer Sun Xiaosong asked me for some suggestions of Canadian tunes that he might be able to integrate into his new piece,” said Wright. “I sent him about a dozen suggestions and he chose to weave three into his score very prominently.”
Wright suggested the Canadian themes and helped organize the Carleton ensemble, while also recommending a conductor for the collaborative piece.
Order of Canada recipient and Carleton alumna, Barbara Jean Clark, conducted the Caprice on Canadian Melodies, which was the last piece on the program.
“I’m sure Carleton University is very proud of your part in this project, as am I,” Clark later told the musicians from Carleton. “It was my honour to be invited to participate with you in making it happen.”
Beside the Clear Spring adopts the themes of the three Canadian songs as well as a folk song of Northeast China called Lullaby. It was performed by more than 30 musicians of the Chinese and Canadian institutions on both Chinese and Western instruments. Chinese classical music is one of the core pillars in Confucianism, which teaches that the appreciation of sound is a fundamental way to live life.
Beijing’s Central Conservatory of Music is as reputable in Asia as the Juilliard School is in North America, if not the world. Among its many notable alumni is the pianist Lang Lang, who recently played in Ottawa with the NAC Orchestra’s new music director Alexander Shelley.
Of the Carleton musicians who performed, two are Bachelor of Music graduates and eight are Carleton Associate Performance Faculty members. The other 15 are BMus undergrads who played a range of instruments, including violin, flute, double bass and classical guitar.
Media Contact
Steven Reid
Media Relations Officer
Carleton University
613-520-2600 ext. 8718
613-265-6613
Steven_Reid3@Carleton.ca
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Cunewsroom
Need an expert? Go to: www.carleton.ca/newsroom/experts
Friday, September 25, 2015 in News Releases
Share: Twitter, Facebook
