Seven Deadly Sins
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SEVEN DEADLY SINS 2018 / 2019 Concert Series FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR It’s all Kurt Weill’s fault! I’ve always loved his So commissioning seven new works, each Seven Deadly Sins, composed to a text of based on one of the seven sins, opened the Bertolt Brecht. Our original idea had been to door to an intercultural and intergenre-based perform the Weill complete, interspersing exploration of the theme. Besides those four between each of his “sins” seven newly artists, we added into the mix two commissioned ones on the same themes. accomplished composers from the concert Creative an idea though this was, it would have music genre, Chris Mayo and Analia Llugdar. taken more than three hours to perform. And And to complete this snapshot of music that furthermore, Kurt Weill’s publisher wasn’t keen reflects society’s taboos, we invited the talented on interspersing other composers’ music John Kameel Farah, Berlin-based pianist, between the movements. So we hauled up the composer and improviser. anchor and set sail without the Weill altogether. You can take genuine pleasure in these seven In the meantime, in recent seasons sins without feeling the least bit guilty, and we Soundstreams has begun to work with a really hope you will! number of imaginative singer/song writers in projects like Claude Vivier’s Musik für das Ende and our annual Electric Messiah. These artists include Chloe Charles, Aviva Chernick, Robin Dann and Elizabeth Shepherd. Each has made rich contributions to our programming outside of more conventional new music, and brought Lawrence Cherney, us influences and inspirations from jazz, improv, Artistic Director, Soundstreams indie, neo soul, and R&B. Soundstreams would like to acknowledge that this event takes place on traditional territories. The territories include the Wendat, Anishinabek Nation, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nations, and the Métis Nation. ABOUT SOUNDSTREAMS A world leader among contemporary music They include Encounters, a free discovery companies, Soundstreams is the foremost series featuring performances, discussions, and global presenter of new Canadian music. audience participation; the Emerging Composer Lawrence Cherney, Artistic Director and Ben Workshop, helping talented contemporary Dietschi, Executive Director are committed to composers worldwide launch their careers; showcasing the work of living and international BMO SoundWave provides accessible tickets to composers with a focus on innovative thematic young adults; and SoundMakers provides and experiential programming. Soundstreams interactive learning experiences online, in the also serves a broad community of music lovers classroom, and in the community. through free outreach and education programs. SOUNDSTREAMS.CA SEVEN DEADLY SINS Performers Chloe Charles, Vocalist Joel Schwartz, Guitar Aviva Chernick, Vocalist Neil Whitford, Guitar/Electronics Robin Dann, Vocalist John Kameel Farah, Piano Andrea Ludwig, Mezzo-Soprano Moshe Shulman, Accordion/Bandoneon Elizabeth Shepherd, Vocalist Erika Raum, Violin Jamie Drake, Percussion Jesse Dietschi, Double Bass/Bass Guitar Gregory Oh, Conductor Program The program order will be announced from the concert stage. There will be one 20 minute intermission. All works on this program are world premieres. Elizabeth Shepherd Envy Elizabeth Shepherd, Vocalist Jamie Drake, Percussion Joel Schwartz, Guitar John Kameel Farah, Piano Moshe Shulman, Accordion Erika Raum, Violin Jesse Dietschi, Double Bass Envy is commissioned with the generous support of Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec. Elizabeth Shepherd’s appearance is supported by Margaret Grottenthaler and Doug Harrison. Proud to support SoundMakers. Chloe Charles Gluttony Chloe Charles, Vocalist Jamie Drake, Percussion Neil Whitford, Guitar/Electronics John Kameel Farah, Piano Erika Raum, Violin We are working together with Soundstreams Jesse Dietschi, Double Bass Gluttony is commissioned with the generous support of the Toronto Arts Council. to make a difference in our communities. Chloe Charles’ appearance is supported by Margaret Grottenthaler and Doug Harrison. Analía Llugdar Lust Gregory Oh, Conductor Andrea Ludwig, Mezzo-Soprano Jamie Drake, Percussion John Kameel Farah, Piano Erika Raum, Violin Jesse Dietschi, Double Bass Lust is commissioned with the generous support of Michael and Sonja Koerner. John Kameel Farah On Pride John Kameel Farah, Piano ® The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. M05234 (0116) SOUNDSTREAMS.CA 5 Program (continued) STAFF AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robin Dann Reaching Robin Dann, Vocalist for a leaf Jamie Drake, Percussion Joel Schwartz, Guitar John Kameel Farah, Piano Moshe Shulman, Bandoneon Erika Raum, Violin Staff Jesse Dietschi, Double Bass Reaching for a leaf is commissioned with the generous support of the Ontario Arts Council. Robin Dann’s appearance is supported by Elaine Gold. Lawrence Cherney Artistic Director Christopher Mayo Spirit Gregory Oh, conductor Ben Dietschi Wrestlers Andrea Ludwig, Mezzo-Soprano Executive Director Jamie Drake, Percussion Joel Schwartz, Guitar Emma Fowler John Kameel Farah, Piano/Sampler Director of Artistic Planning & Outreach Moshe Shulman, Accordion Erika Raum, Violin Tim Crouch Jesse Dietschi, Double Bass Director of Marketing & Patron Experience Spirit Wrestlers is commissioned with the generous support of the Ontario Arts Council. Cheryl Stone FAUXSTALGIA Manager of Advancement & Patron Engagement Aviva Chernick Wrath Aviva Chernick, Vocalist Arranged: Jamie Drake, Percussion Felix Mills Aviva Chernick and James Rolfe Joel Schwartz, Guitar Metcalf Foundation Intern Transcription and Creative Midwifery: John Kameel Farah, Piano Community Engagement Associate James Rolfe Moshe Shulman, Accordion Expanded Sound Sourcing and Erika Raum, Violin Theatrical Consultant: Jesse Dietschi, Bass Guitar Fides Krucker Board of Directors A GENRE AND Yiddish Translation: Hindy Nosek-Abelson GENDER BENDING Dramaturgy and Text Consultant: Daniel Weinzweig Rabbi Bronwen Mullin President CABARET Wrath is commissioned with the generous support of Stanley H. Witkin. Lawrence Smith – Vice-President Rob Kempson, Creative Consultant Original Script by Rob Kempson Norman Woo MAY 8 Patrick Lavender, Production Manager Sound Recording by Richard Feren Treasurer David DeGrow, Associate Production Manager – Matthew Pencer, Sound Technician Joseph J. DiStefano Secretary THE DRAKE This program is dedicated with gratitude to Roger D. Moore, brilliant scientist and stalwart Daniel Bernhard UNDERGROUND advocate of contemporary music. Thank you, Roger for sharing your love of music far and wide. You were a part of the heartbeat of this community; your loss is felt so deeply. Katherine Smalley – Gabe De Roche SOUNDSTREAMS.CA Special thanks to Steinway Piano for their support. 6 2018-2019 CONCERT SERIES SOUNDSTREAMS.CA 7 Montreal composer Analia Llugdar says, “Lust degrade and become incomprehensible.” finds its essence in the pleasure of the transgression of the forbidden, in the Singer Aviva Chernick describes Wrath SEVEN delectation of going beyond what seems natural with a verse: and socially accepted, more than the pursuit of frenzied sexual pleasure.” Llugdar found Under the surface is a storm, contained yet inspiration in William Burroughs’ Naked Lunch. perpetually brewing. DEADLY She says, “Reading this book is destabilizing. Hallucinations, metamorphoses, terrifying and The voice is the conveyor of this previously comical erotic scenes, make us taste lust in its stifled potency. purest state. My intention is to musically SINS translate this vertiginous and psychedelic There is sound riding on supple breath. There is literary universe by creating a sort of whirlwind language, sacred and spitting. sound that will take the listener in different directions-situations without being able to The containment gives way to an unleashing. By David Jaeger predict or escape them.” What damage will there be in the wake of Singer, songwriter and pianist Elizabeth this storm? Shepherd, who was so divinely featured in Soundstreams’ Electric Messiah in 2017, turns Chernick is collaborating with composer James a corner to show us another side of her artistry Rolfe in the composition of Wrath. with her take on Envy. She says, “it is the bleakest of sins given that unlike the others, Finally, for Sloth, vocalist Robin Dann thought it’s not a perversion of a fundamentally positive about a certain creature. Dann says, “I’d like to Evagrius Ponticus (345–399 AD) is hardly a Pianist/synthesist & composer John Kameel attribute or pleasurable human experience. write music that a sloth (the animal) might live familiar household reference for most of us. Yet Farah says of his composition, On Pride, “Pride Through music, I will be exploring the by. The constant aim will be to generate music this fourth century monk and ascetic is credited is related to balance. If we have too little or too fundamentally corrosive and absolutely joyless that flows slowly and yet is thick with intention, with the classification of the seven deadly sins, much self-esteem, we are out of balance. When nature of this sin, as well as investigating the in the same way that a sloth might reach for a namely: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath we are shamed, humiliated, we cannot function. antidote - which is not a matter of finding leaf on a branch with single-minded intention and sloth. His writings and those of his When we are inflated with too much of it,