PROGRAM
- SHERRYL SEWEPAGAHAM MÎskanaw (“The Road”) World Premiere
- CHRISTOPHER TIN Sogno di Volare (“The Dream of Flight”)
- KIM ARNESEN Flight Song
- Z. RANDALL STROOPE Amor de mi alma (“You Are the Love of My Soul”)
- FRANK TICHELI Earth Song
- RODGERS & HART Johnny One Note
- JEFFERY L. AMES Let Everything that Hath Breath
- DOLORES KEANE & JOHN FAULKNER Mouth Music
- DONALD PATRIQUIN Ah! si mon moine voulait danser
- LENNON & MCCARTNEY When I’m 64
- GWYNETH WALKER i thank you god
- ABBA Thank You for the Music
- JAKE RUNESTAD Wild Forces
- JAKE RUNESTAD Good Night, My Love
- JAKE RUNESTAD Your Soul Is Song
Our 30th Anniversary Gala sparkles with wonderful music that shows the depth and breadth of what KSS has performed in the past, as well as pointing to new paths in the future.
We are thrilled to perform the World Premiere of “MÎskanaw (The Road)” a new work by Sherryl Sewepagaham, commissioned by KSS for this anniversary occasion. Sherryl is of Cree-Dene ancestry from the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta. She is also an educator, as well as a composer and performer of traditional and contemporary First Nations drum songs.
As a co-founding member, Sherryl sang with Asani for 19 years and contributed her vocals and skilled harmonies to the trio’s collection of traditionally-based, contemporary Cree and English drum and rattle songs. Asani travelled around the world playing at festivals and events in Finland, France, South Africa and around North America. Major stages included New York’s Carnegie Hall, The Smithsonian Institute and The Kennedy Centre, as well as many Canadian folk festivals from coast to coast. Performance highlights included singing for the Dalai Lama, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, among others. You can read more about Sherryl at https://www.mgirlmusic.ca/index.php/portfolio/sherryl-sewepagaham/
Also on the program is the glorious “Sogno di Volare” by Christopher Tin, the composer of “Baba Yetu”. Based on Leonardo da Vinci’s writings on flight, the piece is based around the concept of exploration: both physically, in seeking out new lands, but also intellectually, in seeking out new frontiers of science, technology, and humanities.
“Amor de mi alma” (“You Are the Love of My Soul”) is a deeply emotive work by Z. Randall Stroope, based on a stunning 16th century Spanish love poem, flowing with rich harmonies.
“Flight Song” by Norwegian composer, Kim Arnesen, is an exquisite salute to those who open the world of music for us in our lives, while the Quebecois folk song, “Ah! si mon moine voulait danser”, skillfully arranged by Canadian composer, Donald Patriquin, and “Mouth Music” by Keane & Faulkner are light, spirited, and full of fun.
Frank Ticheli’s moving a cappella gem, “Earth Song”, has unwittingly become an anthem for our time, with its invitation to “Sing, Be, Live, See.”
Gwyneth Walker’s passionate setting of e. e. cummings’ poem, “i thank you god”, is unique and expressive, while the soul-stirring gospel song, “Let Everything that Hath Breath” by Jeffery L. Ames, is gutsy, pounding with rhythm and energy.
Not to be forgotten are toe-tapping happy tunes by ABBA, Lennon & McCartney and the amazing team of Rodgers & Hart.
Closing our 30th anniversary celebration is a set of three pieces by Jake Runestad, one of the hottest composers on the choral scene. Dubbed a “choral rockstar”, Jake is steeped in a belief that music has the power to initiate positive change with works that are socially conscious and explore authentic human emotions and experiences.
A belief that KSS understands very well…
RUN TIME: 90 minutes; no intermission
COMMISSIONED COMPOSER and ARTISTS
Cree Composer
Artistic Director
Piano
