Warmest greetings to all from Elektra Women’s Choir and our choral community in Vancouver, Canada! We are honoured to be sharing our music with you today.

Since first attending a World Symposium on Choral Music in Stockholm/Helsinki/Tallinn in 1990, I have had my choral horizons expanded through this wonderful, convivial gathering of the International Federation for Choral Music. I have learned so much from new friends from all parts of the globe and been moved by the artistry of their ensembles. This is where I’ve come to understand that our roots, our language, and our surroundings shape how we make music.

Into this context, I’ve thought long and hard about what music Elektra should be sharing with you today. And I hope the results interest you and give you some understanding of our Canadian choral world.  My guiding principles were that our program should be “grown up”, not music that children would also sing, which, of course, is largely related to text. Our singers range in age from 21 to 65, and that life experience is reflected in many of our selections. I also wanted the music to have the possibility of being transformative – to open a door for a listener to experience something that was more than entertaining. And I wanted to share some Canadian repertoire and some women composers with you, because I believe so strongly in their creative work. Of particular note are the three works by our pianist of the last 16 years, Dr. Stephen Smith, whose choral writing for us is so superbly rooted in Elektra’s sound. (Not listed in these two concerts posted on the website was his what i want). Thanks also to Jaakko Mäntyjärvi for his creativity in composing Juliet November Tango for us on this occasion, commissioned by the 11th World symposium on Choral Music. Please be sure to read the “back story” on this funny new work.

Elektra-Barcelona-2017

Performance Pieces:

1. Songbird Sarah Quartel
2. Early Spring Traditional Newfoundland Kathleen Allan (arr) 
3. Sanctus-Benedictus (from Mass no. 6) Gyorgy Orban
4. Nóchka (from Six Choruses for Treble Voices, op. 15) Sergei Rachmaninoff
5. Consider the Lilies Stephen Smith
6. Psalm 23 Franz Schubert
7. Valley, The Jane Siberry Beth Hanson (arr) 
8. Circle Game, The Joni Mitchell Kate MacColl (arr) 

Canadian Work