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Sacred and Profane Somers

with
Elmer Iseler Singers

CMC-CD 5495 Centrediscs

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Originally released in the early 1980s on vinyl records, these three works are brought together on CD, and represent a major statement in Canadian choral music composition. Composer Harry Somers offers three pieces, all of which exhibit a thoroughly different character and mood. From the traditional folksong lyricism of the Five Songs of the Newfoundland Outports through the atonally dramatic Kyrie to the witty and bawdy cabaret-like Three Limericks, Somers provides the listener with a rich diversity of musical expression.

What the critics say:

"This collection of music by Toronto's Harry Somers remains one of the finest vocal discs in the Canadian catalogue, with the Elmer Iseler Singers in top form... Would that Somers were more prolific; his music is as good as we have in this country." - William Littler, The Toronto Star

"Cette collection d'oeuvres du compositeur torontois Harry Somers demeure l'une des meilleures du catalogue de disques de musique vocale canadienne. Les Elmer Iseler Singers y sont en pleine forme...On souhaiterait que Somers soit plus prolifique: on n'écrit pas mieux que lui dans ce pays." - William Littler, The Toronto Star

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The Spring of Somers

National Arts Centre Orchestra
Victor Feldbrill: Conductor
Jennifer Swartz: Solo Harp

SMCD5162 CBC Records
Release Date: Sep 1996

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Finally, a CD containing some of the finest early works by the distinguished Canadian composer Harry Somers! The four works on this compact disc take us through The Spring of Somers, his young maturity, age 23 -35. This stunning collection features The National Arts Centre Orchestra, under the baton of Victor Feldbrill. Both the orchestra and Feldbrill carry a strong commitment to contemporary Canadian music and they bring a real vitality to the music. The disc also includes the talented young Canadian harpist Jennifer Swartz.

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Harry Somers . Celebration

James Parker: piano
Jean Stilwell: mezzo-soprano
Esprit Orchestra
Alex Pauk: conductor

SMCD 5199 CBC Records
release date: May23, 2000

Notes:
~ coming soon ~

New CD Preview Notes

Somers Strings
Somers String Quartets
String Quartets - and - Serinette
(released October 2, 2001)

Somers Strings: the first 3 are early works ...
Rhapsody(1948) dedicated to Catherine Mackie, later his wife
Sonatas # 1 and 2 (1953&1955) with piano
Music for Solo Violin (1973) was commissioned by Yehudi Menuhin and inspired by the Muezzin's call to prayer while on a visit to Kashmir. Andrew Dawes is the violinist and Kenneth Broadway the pianist.

Somers String Quartets:
String Quartet #2 - Written in Paris in1949 but unperformed until premiered on a CBC broadcast in 1963
String Quartet#3 was commissioned and premiered by the Hungarian String Quartet, first performed by them in Vancouver in1959
Movement for String Quartet: commissioned by The Banff Centre for the Arts to celebrate it's 50th anniversary. It was the imposed work for the new international string quartet competition instituted in 1983 and played by all 10 competing groups and broadcast live on Arts National during the competition which was won and is still played by The Colorado Quartet. All works on this CD are performed by the Accordes ... the members of which are violinists Fujiko Imajishi and Carol Fujino, violist Douglas Perry and cellist David Heatherington

String Quartets - and - Serinette: Harry's opera with libretto by James Reaney will be comprised of 2 CDS.
Serinette was commissioned by the Music at Sharon Festival in Sharon Ontario and was Harry's 5th opera.The subject was to be relevant to colonial Upper Canada and specifically to the Sharon Temple, the home of a Quaker sect called The Children of Peace. The initial run was from July 7-28,1990. Subsequently, the opera was revised by Soundstreams Canada and presented in a concert version at St. James' Cathedral in Toronto on May 31 and June 2,2001. The driving force behind the commissioning of the opera and its productions was Lawrence Cherney, founder and artistic director of Music at Sharon and Soundstreams. Following the St. James' Cathedral performances the opera was recorded for Centrediscs. Victor Feldbrill was the conductor, Tom Diamond was the director. Featured in the recording are:

The Canadian Chamber Ensemble and singers: Mehgan Atchison, John Avey, Michael Colvin, Alain Coulombe, Sally Dibblee, Allyson Mc Hardy, Doug MacNaughton, Maria Pappas Lambroula, David Pomeroy and Marcia Swanston. Head Vocal Coach was Liz Upchurch and Assistant Vocal Coach was Che Anne Loewen.

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