B.C. composer's work the latest to be celebrated by Canadian Music Centre
Credit to Author: Aleesha Harris| Date: Sat, 01 Feb 2020 19:28:39 +0000
When: Feb. 10, 7 p.m.
Where: Murray Adaskin Salon, 837 Davie St.
Tickets and info: From $10, musiccentrebc.ca/concerts
Four seasons ago the British Columbia branch of the Canadian Music Centre inaugurated a series of regular season concerts devoted to the works of composers in our region.
The idea was to start by celebrating milestone years for CMC member composers. Coming up is a 100th anniversary program devoted to the music of Ross Alden.
After coming up with the idea, centre regional director Sean Bickerton adopted, pretty much by necessity, a strategy for an intimate series. The Murray Adaskin Salon is just under 50 seats, a decidedly urban sort of space but just right for many events that would be swamped by larger halls. Over the seasons the CMC initiative has become a stellar example of how to do important work on a small scale.
This season there have even been a few breakout concerts: a dual celebration of Jordan Nobles and Jocelyn Morlock’s 50th birthdays at The Annex in December; and there’s an event celebrating Ernst Schneider’s 80th in Penticton on Feb. 8, including the premiere of Schneider’s Second Piano Concerto. On March 30, UBC hosts a 70th birthday concert for Stephen Chatman.
But back to the very rare recital devoted to the music of Alden (1920–2008). He had many professional roles and two names: as Murray Carmack he was an educator (two texts he worked on became standard curriculum for B.C. students in the 1950s and ’60s), critic (for The London Times), scholar, and affiliate pianist/composer at Rudolf Steiner’s Anthroposophical Society in Switzerland.
He returned to Canada and taught at New Westminster’s Douglas College. As a composer he used the name Ross Alden, writing some of his most impressive music in retirement.
The CMC took the unorthodox step of making Alden a posthumous affiliate composer and it is fitting they should celebrate him with performances of his chamber music.
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