Arraymusic
Encyclopedia
Arraymusic is a Canadian
organization specializing in the performance and the promotion of contemporary classical music
. It presents its virtuosic 7-member chamber ensemble, The Array Ensemble, each summer season in a 3-month series of Toronto
-based concerts.
Array was founded in 1971 by six young composers at the University of Toronto
in Canada
, to explore a new style of music that was rarely heard in Toronto
. Since then, the ensemble has continued to unite musicians to deliver inspired virtuosic performances.
The Array Ensemble is widely considered one of Canada's finest creative musical groups. Each member possesses an education in the traditional art of classical music
, along with the highly specialized skills and experience needed to perform today’s new music.
The Array Ensemble tours, commissions and records its music, and boasts an extensive library of scores written for the group by leading and emerging composers from around the world. As part of its long-running Young Composers’ Workshop and Concert, and its newer Young Performers’ Workshop and Concert, the ensemble mentors up-and-coming composers and musicians alike. In addition, Array Ensemble members provide instructional master classes within The Array Studio designed to keep composers up-to-date on the latest techniques for various instruments.
Over the years, Array’s ensemble has changed its instrumentation and enjoyed many highly accomplished guest artists, as well as the leadership of eight distinctive and distinguished artistic directors. These include: John Fodi
(1972–1978), Marjan Mozetich
(1976–1978), Douglas Perry (1979–1983), Henry Kucharzyk (1983–1988), Linda Catlin Smith
(1988–1993), Michael J. Baker (1993–2000), Allison Cameron (2000–2005) and, currently, Bob Stevenson (2005–present). Throughout, The Array Ensemble has remained true to its mandate to commission, present and promote bold, risk-taking contemporary music.
The Array Ensemble has recorded 7 compact discs, released on the Artifact label. Array Legacy, its most recent release in 2009, was a retrospective 2-CD set celebrating 35-years of music-making. This CD features the musical ‘picks’ of each of Array’s past artistic directors, representing the evolution of new music over four decades.
The Array Ensemble performs concerts for other presenters and has toured 7 times throughout Europe and Canada. In 2007 they performed on stage at Canada
’s National Arts Centre
in Ottawa, Ontario, as part of a 3-week music-theatre presentation featuring composer Allen Cole’s noir thriller The Wrong Son. In early 2008, The Array Ensemble performed in Montreal
for the Quebec Contemporary Music Society
and performed part of its 2008/09 season at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
's Experimental Media & Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) in New York
.
The Array Ensemble engages in interdisciplinary work and collaborates frequently with distinguished choreographers, dancers and visual artists, which have included Peggy Baker, Dancemakers, Studio GRAME (in Lyon, France), the Theatre Centre, and Toronto Dance Theatre.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
organization specializing in the performance and the promotion of contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music can be understood as belonging to the period that started in the mid-1970s with the retreat of modernism. However, the term may also be employed in a broader sense to refer to all post-1945 modern musical forms.-Categorization:...
. It presents its virtuosic 7-member chamber ensemble, The Array Ensemble, each summer season in a 3-month series of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
-based concerts.
Array was founded in 1971 by six young composers at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, to explore a new style of music that was rarely heard in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. Since then, the ensemble has continued to unite musicians to deliver inspired virtuosic performances.
The Array Ensemble is widely considered one of Canada's finest creative musical groups. Each member possesses an education in the traditional art of classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, along with the highly specialized skills and experience needed to perform today’s new music.
"[Arraymusic] leaves the audience speechless before they stand to break into applause. This ensemble is a model for all musicians – contemporary or not.”
– Bulletin de Collectif et Cie, Annecy
The Array Ensemble tours, commissions and records its music, and boasts an extensive library of scores written for the group by leading and emerging composers from around the world. As part of its long-running Young Composers’ Workshop and Concert, and its newer Young Performers’ Workshop and Concert, the ensemble mentors up-and-coming composers and musicians alike. In addition, Array Ensemble members provide instructional master classes within The Array Studio designed to keep composers up-to-date on the latest techniques for various instruments.
Over the years, Array’s ensemble has changed its instrumentation and enjoyed many highly accomplished guest artists, as well as the leadership of eight distinctive and distinguished artistic directors. These include: John Fodi
John Fodi
John Fodi was a composer and music librarian. Born in Hungary, he became a naturalized Canadian citizen in 1961. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre, he was a founding member of ARRAYMUSIC, an organization which premiered several of his compositions.- Life :Born in Nagytevel, John Fodi moved...
(1972–1978), Marjan Mozetich
Marjan Mozetich
Marjan Mozetich is a Canadian composer. He was born in Italy to Slovenian parents and has lived in Canada since 1952. He is currently an Adjunct Lecturer in Composition at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and has won several prestigious awards, including the first prize in the CAPAC -Sir...
(1976–1978), Douglas Perry (1979–1983), Henry Kucharzyk (1983–1988), Linda Catlin Smith
Linda Catlin Smith
Linda Catlin Smith is an American composer based out of Toronto, Canada. In 2005 she became the second woman to win the Jules Léger Prize for New Chamber Music....
(1988–1993), Michael J. Baker (1993–2000), Allison Cameron (2000–2005) and, currently, Bob Stevenson (2005–present). Throughout, The Array Ensemble has remained true to its mandate to commission, present and promote bold, risk-taking contemporary music.
“Their ensemble playing is of enviable precision… they function like a music machine, but above and beyond this they prevail and breathe life into the performance… Arraymusic musicians seduce with expansive, sensual sounds.”
– Basel, Switzerland
The Array Ensemble has recorded 7 compact discs, released on the Artifact label. Array Legacy, its most recent release in 2009, was a retrospective 2-CD set celebrating 35-years of music-making. This CD features the musical ‘picks’ of each of Array’s past artistic directors, representing the evolution of new music over four decades.
The Array Ensemble performs concerts for other presenters and has toured 7 times throughout Europe and Canada. In 2007 they performed on stage at Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
’s National Arts Centre
National Arts Centre
The National Arts Centre is a centre for the performing arts located in Ottawa, Ontario, between Elgin Street and the Rideau Canal...
in Ottawa, Ontario, as part of a 3-week music-theatre presentation featuring composer Allen Cole’s noir thriller The Wrong Son. In early 2008, The Array Ensemble performed in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
for the Quebec Contemporary Music Society
Quebec Contemporary Music Society
The Quebec Contemporary Music Society, or La Société de musique contemporaine du Québec in French , is a contemporary classical-music organization based in Montreal, Quebec...
and performed part of its 2008/09 season at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
's Experimental Media & Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
The Array Ensemble engages in interdisciplinary work and collaborates frequently with distinguished choreographers, dancers and visual artists, which have included Peggy Baker, Dancemakers, Studio GRAME (in Lyon, France), the Theatre Centre, and Toronto Dance Theatre.
Array Ensemble musicians
- Stephen Clarke, piano
- Blair Mackay, percussion
- Anita McAllister, trumpet
- Peter Pavlovsky, double bass
- Rick Sacks, percussion
- Bob Stevenson, clarinets, artistic director
- Rebecca van der Post, violin
External links
- Arraymusic official site
- Arraymusic owned creative music community events-listing website
- Encyclopedia of Music in Canada > Associations > ARRAYMUSIC
- Colin Eatock: Arraymusic. CanMus Documents, 4., pg 147-193. [1989]
- "Six composers set out to push "new music"." Canadian Composer. Nov. 1972