Jim Hiscott
Encyclopedia
James Michael Hiscott is a Canadian composer
, radio producer
, and accordionist. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre
and a member of the Canadian League of Composers
, his compositions are characterized by their strong rhythm
ic base, standard harmonic
language, and merger of world music
with contemporary sounds and instrumentation. He has received commissions from the Great Lakes Brass Quintet, the Manitoba Puppet Theatre, Metis Arts of Manitoba, and Music Inter Alia. His 1973 work Planes was premiered by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
in 1986 under conductor by Kazuhiro Koizumi
.
and physics
at Brock University
where he earned a Bachelor of Science
in 1969. It was while pursuing graduate studies in the sciences at Lancaster University
in England in 1970 that he decided to switch his career path to music; although he did earn a Master of Science
from the University of Toronto
in 1971. He studied at The Royal Conservatory of Music from 1970-1976 where he was a pupil of Samuel Dolin
in music composition. He also studied music at York University
from 1973-1976 where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts
in music in 1976.
In 1977 Hiscott was awarded a composition prize by the Canadian Federation of University Women
. That same year he became a music producer for CBC Radio
in Toronto, later working in the same capacity for CBC Radio in Edmonton (1979) and Winnipeg (1980–1991). In 1981 he co-founded both the contemporary music society IZ Music and the Manitoba Composers Association, notably serving as the latter organizations first president. Several of his compositions have been given their world premieres in IZ Music concerts, including Red Dawn (1977), Spirit Reel (1982), and Variations on a Theme of Giuseppe Verdi (1983, rev 1985).
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, radio producer
Radio producer
A radio producer oversees the making of a radio show. There are two main types of producer. An audio or creative producer and a content producer. Audio producers create sounds and audio specifically, content producers oversee and orchestrate a radio show or feature...
, and accordionist. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre
Canadian Music Centre
The Canadian Music Centre holds Canada's largest collection of Canadian concert music. The CMC exists to promote the works of its Associate Composers in Canada and around the world....
and a member of the Canadian League of Composers
Canadian League of Composers
The Canadian League of Composers is an organization formed in 1951 of Canadian composers primarily interested in raising awareness and acceptance of Canadian music. The activities of the League are overseen and directed by an executive and a National Council...
, his compositions are characterized by their strong rhythm
Rhythm
Rhythm may be generally defined as a "movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions." This general meaning of regular recurrence or pattern in time may be applied to a wide variety of cyclical natural phenomena having a periodicity or...
ic base, standard harmonic
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
language, and merger of world music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
with contemporary sounds and instrumentation. He has received commissions from the Great Lakes Brass Quintet, the Manitoba Puppet Theatre, Metis Arts of Manitoba, and Music Inter Alia. His 1973 work Planes was premiered by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Its primary concert venue is the Centennial Concert Hall, and the orchestra also performs throughout the province of Manitoba.-History:...
in 1986 under conductor by Kazuhiro Koizumi
Kazuhiro Koizumi
is a Japanese conductor who has had an active international career since the 1970s. He has appeared as a guest conductor throughout Europe and the United States, appearing with such ensembles as the Berlin Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra...
.
Life and career
Born in St. Catharines, Hiscott began his professional studies in mathematicsMathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
at Brock University
Brock University
Brock University is a comprehensive university located in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Brock offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs that include co-op and other experiential learning opportunities to an enrolment of over 17,000 full-time students.The enabling legislation is...
where he earned a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1969. It was while pursuing graduate studies in the sciences at Lancaster University
Lancaster University
Lancaster University, officially The University of Lancaster, is a leading research-intensive British university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established by Royal Charter in 1964 and initially based in St Leonard's Gate until moving to a purpose-built 300 acre campus at...
in England in 1970 that he decided to switch his career path to music; although he did earn a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
from 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 1971. He studied at The Royal Conservatory of Music from 1970-1976 where he was a pupil of Samuel Dolin
Samuel Dolin
Samuel Joseph Dolin was a Canadian composer, music educator, and arts administrator. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre and a founding member of the Canadian League of Composers , he served as the CLC's vice president in 1967-1968 and president from 1969-1973...
in music composition. He also studied music at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
from 1973-1976 where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
in music in 1976.
In 1977 Hiscott was awarded a composition prize by the Canadian Federation of University Women
Canadian Federation of University Women
The Canadian Federation of University Women was founded in 1919 It is a non-profit, voluntary self-funded bilingual organization of women university graduates , with almost 10,000 members....
. That same year he became a music producer for CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
in Toronto, later working in the same capacity for CBC Radio in Edmonton (1979) and Winnipeg (1980–1991). In 1981 he co-founded both the contemporary music society IZ Music and the Manitoba Composers Association, notably serving as the latter organizations first president. Several of his compositions have been given their world premieres in IZ Music concerts, including Red Dawn (1977), Spirit Reel (1982), and Variations on a Theme of Giuseppe Verdi (1983, rev 1985).