Land of Shining Waters

Instrumentation: 

2+1.2.2.2./2.2.1.1./timp.1perc./strings

(flute 2 is optional, tuba part can be played by a bass trombone)

Composed: 2018

Length: 6:00″

Notes:

I composed Land of Shining Waters as a musical tribute to the history of the city of Peterborough, Ontario. The first section of the composition starts with a slightly mysterious feel representing the mists of time. A slow and majestic theme follows, paying homage to First Nations’ peoples who first settled in the area.

The second part of the composition celebrates the founding of the city of Peterborough in 1825, when Peter Robinson directed the settlement of a large group of Irish immigrants in the area. The music is based on two traditional Celtic folksongs. The first folksong, Drummer Boy, is from Nova Scotia and is played by the piccolo. The second folksong, Rakes of Kildare, is from Ireland. It is first played by a solo bassoon, and then by other instruments, including a solo violin. In the last section of the piece, the Drummer Boy theme returns, but faster, creating an upbeat and exuberant ending.

Land of Shining Waters was commissioned by and is Dedicated to the Kawartha Youth Orchestra and music director Michael Newnham in celebration of the Kawartha Youth Orchestra’s 15th anniversary.

Fantasia on Canadian Carols/Fantaisie sur des Airs de Noël canadiens

Instrumentation: 

  1. 2(2=picc).2(2=ehn).2.2./2.2.0.0./timp.1perc.hp./strings

    (harp is optional, alternate part combining timpani and percussion for 1 player)

    Other Versions: Orchestra with or without SATB Choir or SA Children’s Choir; Chamber Orchestra with Choir or Children’s Choir; and String Orchestra with Choir or Children’s Choir

Composed: 2016

Duration: 10:00″

Notes:

I was interested in writing two orchestra works, one for Christmas and another to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Canada in 2017. Finally, I realized I might be able to combine both these ideas into a single work, a Fantasia on Canadian Carols. I realized that I only knew of the Huron Carol. In the summer of 2015, I started to research the history of Christmas carols in Canada, which took me on a fascinating discovery of Canadian holiday traditions. I found three categories: carols that travelled from Europe and remained the same; carols that travelled from Europe and evolved into a Canadian variant; and new carols composed in Canada. I also discovered some uniquely Canadian Christmas music, including “Santa Claw” songs, found in the Maritimes.

I started talking about my idea to friends who gave me the idea of writing two versions, one for orchestra and the other for choir and orchestra. I chose to base my Fantasia on a group of four older traditional carols representing three areas of Canada: Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. I decided to title this work in both our languages since two carols are sung in English and two in French.

The Huron Carol

The Huron Carol is considered to be the first Canadian Christmas carol, probably first sung in 1641 or 1642, and written by Jean de Brébeuf, a Jesuit missionary at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons in Ontario. Brébeuf wrote the lyrics in the native language of the Huron/Wendat people to a French folk song Une Jeune Pucelle (A Young Maiden). The lyrics of this carol combines the birth of Jesus with Huron religious concepts. Today, this carol is commonly heard with the English lyrics written by Jesse Edgar Middleton in 1926.

Il est né, le divin Enfant

Il est né, le divin Enfant (He is born, the divine Child), is originally a traditional French carol, but travelled to Canada to become part of French-Canadian Christmas celebrations. Ernest Gagnon, an important 19th century collector of French-Canadian folksongs, used this carol in his Cantiques populaires pour la fête de Noël (1909), a wonderful collection of French Canadian Christmas carols for choir and organ. The melody in this version is slightly different than the original French carol.

The chorus of this carol has strong musical connections, “He is born, the Heav’nly Child, Oboes play; set bagpipes sounding. He is born, the Heav’nly Child. Let all sing His nativity.”

The Cherry-Tree Carol

The Cheery-Tree Carol is an old traditional English carol from the early 15th century. There are different versions of this carol, so it is not surprising that it found a new melody and lyrics in Canada. The important collector of folksongs from the Maritimes, Helen Creighton, collected a beautiful version from William Riley, who lived in the aptly named Cherry Brook, Nova Scotia. The lyrics tell an apocryphal story of the Virgin Mary, occurring while traveling with Joseph to Bethlehem for the census.

La Guignolée

La Guignolée or La Guiannée, is a French medieval tradition that travelled to French Canada with the first French settlers. It became popular in Quebec, parts of the Maritimes (including New Brunswick), and a few French-Canadian communities in the United States. Occurring on either Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve, the singing participants went door to door asking for food and drink, plus donations for the poor. The backside of the pig was considered a prize, and if not available, the group would ask to take the eldest daughter or even threaten to burn down the house. According to Marius Barbeau, the great 20th century collector of French folksongs, the rowdy group was followed by an old buggy (to contain the gifts), and all the dogs of the neighourhood. Ernest Gagnon discovered the catchy melody from the area around Montreal and Quebec.

Commissioning and First Performances

The Fantasia on Canadian Carols was commissioned and premiered by the International Symphony Orchestra (Douglas Bianchi, conductor) joined by the International Symphony Singers (Dr. David Troiano, conductor) on December 2, 2016 (Clyde Township, Michigan) and December 3 (Sarnia, Ontario); the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra (Ronald Royer, conductor) on December 3 (Scarborough, Ontario); Symphony New Brunswick (Michael Newnham, conductor) joined by the Louisbourg Choir (Monique Richard, conductor) on December 3 (Saint John, New Brunswick), December 5 (Moncton, NB) and December 6 (Fredericton, NB); and the Brantford Symphony Orchestra (Philip Sarabura conductor) on December 10, 2016 (Brantford, Ontario).

Fantasia on Canadian Carols/Fantaisie sur des Airs de Noël canadiens

Instrumentation: 
  1. 2(2=picc).2(2=ehn).2.2./4.2.3.1./timp.3perc.hp./strings             (harp is optional, alternate version for 2 percussion)
  2. 2(2=picc).2(2=ehn).2.2./4.2.1.0./timp.1perc.hp./strings            (harp is optional)

Other Versions: Orchestra with SATB Choir or SA Children’s Choir; Chamber Orchestra with or without Choir or Children’s Choir; and String Orchestra with Choir or Children’s Choir

Composed: 2016

Duration: 10:00″

Notes:

I was interested in writing two orchestra works, one for Christmas and another to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Canada in 2017. Finally, I realized I might be able to combine both these ideas into a single work, a Fantasia on Canadian Carols. I realized that I only knew of the Huron Carol. In the summer of 2015, I started to research the history of Christmas carols in Canada, which took me on a fascinating discovery of Canadian holiday traditions. I found three categories: carols that travelled from Europe and remained the same; carols that travelled from Europe and evolved into a Canadian variant; and new carols composed in Canada. I also discovered some uniquely Canadian Christmas music, including “Santa Claw” songs, found in the Maritimes.

I started talking about my idea to friends who gave me the idea of writing two versions, one for orchestra and the other for choir and orchestra. I chose to base my Fantasia on a group of four older traditional carols representing three areas of Canada: Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. I decided to title this work in both our languages since two carols are sung in English and two in French.

The Huron Carol

The Huron Carol is considered to be the first Canadian Christmas carol, probably first sung in 1641 or 1642, and written by Jean de Brébeuf, a Jesuit missionary at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons in Ontario. Brébeuf wrote the lyrics in the native language of the Huron/Wendat people to a French folk song Une Jeune Pucelle (A Young Maiden). The lyrics of this carol combines the birth of Jesus with Huron religious concepts. Today, this carol is commonly heard with the English lyrics written by Jesse Edgar Middleton in 1926.

Il est né, le divin Enfant

Il est né, le divin Enfant (He is born, the divine Child), is originally a traditional French carol, but travelled to Canada to become part of French-Canadian Christmas celebrations. Ernest Gagnon, an important 19th century collector of French-Canadian folksongs, used this carol in his Cantiques populaires pour la fête de Noël (1909), a wonderful collection of French Canadian Christmas carols for choir and organ. The melody in this version is slightly different than the original French carol.

The chorus of this carol has strong musical connections, “He is born, the Heav’nly Child, Oboes play; set bagpipes sounding. He is born, the Heav’nly Child. Let all sing His nativity.”

The Cherry-Tree Carol

The Cheery-Tree Carol is an old traditional English carol from the early 15th century. There are different versions of this carol, so it is not surprising that it found a new melody and lyrics in Canada. The important collector of folksongs from the Maritimes, Helen Creighton, collected a beautiful version from William Riley, who lived in the aptly named Cherry Brook, Nova Scotia. The lyrics tell an apocryphal story of the Virgin Mary, occurring while traveling with Joseph to Bethlehem for the census.

La Guignolée

La Guignolée or La Guiannée, is a French medieval tradition that travelled to French Canada with the first French settlers. It became popular in Quebec, parts of the Maritimes (including New Brunswick), and a few French-Canadian communities in the United States. Occurring on either Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve, the singing participants went door to door asking for food and drink, plus donations for the poor. The backside of the pig was considered a prize, and if not available, the group would ask to take the eldest daughter or even threaten to burn down the house. According to Marius Barbeau, the great 20th century collector of French folksongs, the rowdy group was followed by an old buggy (to contain the gifts), and all the dogs of the neighourhood. Ernest Gagnon discovered the catchy melody from the area around Montreal and Quebec.

Commissioning and First Performances

The Fantasia on Canadian Carols was commissioned and premiered by the International Symphony Orchestra (Douglas Bianchi, conductor) joined by the International Symphony Singers (Dr. David Troiano, conductor) on December 2, 2016 (Clyde Township, Michigan) and December 3 (Sarnia, Ontario); the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra (Ronald Royer, conductor) on December 3 (Scarborough, Ontario); Symphony New Brunswick (Michael Newnham, conductor) joined by the Louisbourg Choir (Monique Richard, conductor) on December 3 (Saint John, New Brunswick), December 5 (Moncton, NB) and December 6 (Fredericton, NB); and the Brantford Symphony Orchestra (Philip Sarabura conductor) on December 10, 2016 (Brantford, Ontario).

Suite from the Motion Picture Gooby

(Kevin Lau, co-composer, Chris Meyer, orchestrator)

Instrumentation:

2(2=picc).1.2.2./4.2.3.1./timp.3perc.hp.pn./strings (harp or piano are optional; alternate parts for 2 percussion)

Date: 2008
Duration: 12:14                                                            

  1. Main Title – 1:35
  2. Bicycles, Bullies and Bears – 2:35
  3. Space Cart Ride – 1:14
  4. Construction Site Waltz – 1:29
  5. Gooby’s Farewell – 3:53
  6. Finale – 1:28

Notes:

Gooby (DVD-2009)

Monterey Media.com – Theatrical – DVD / VHS

– Genre: Action and Adventure, Family
– Writer, Director, Producer: Wilson Coneybeare
– Cast: Matthew Knight, Robbie Coltrane, Eugene Levy, David James Elliott, Ingrid – Kavelaars

-Composers: Ronald Royer and Kevin Lau (Orchestrated by Chris Meyer)

Imagine if you had a six-foot tall “monster” to help you through the rough times when you were a kid! Willy (Matthew Knight) is terrified about moving into the family’s new house. He’s convinced it’s filled with evil space aliens out to get him. In response to his longing for someone to save him, Gooby (voiced by Robbie Coltrane, Harry Potter’s Hagrid) comes to life as a big, lovable, scruffy creature who quite possibly may be more frightened of the world than Willy. The two new pals embark on hair-raising adventures and learn about courage and the power of friendship all the while with Eugene Levy (Night at the Museum) on their trail. In the end, Gooby fulfills Willy’s wish by bringing Willy and his dad (David James Elliott, “JAG”) together in a heart-warming and exciting climax.

Premiered at the Cannes International Film Festival. Finalist International Family Film Festival, Los Angeles; Platinum Remi Worldfest, Houston, International Film Festival; Official Selection, Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children.

http://www.montereymedia.com/theatrical/films/gooby.html