麻豆原创

The Concordia Symphony Orchestra聽(dir. Danielle Lisboa) and Edmonton Metropolitan Chorus collaborate on April 15 on the world premiere of by one of Canada’s greatest composers, . This multi-media work for chorus, orchestra, soloists, and actors is based upon the ideas, poetry, and visual art of English mystic聽William Blake. The hour-long all-Bevan program takes place Monday, April 15 at the Winspear Centre, and promises to sell out shortly. A few tickets ($25) are still available at the Concordia Bookstore.

Bevan comes to the Concordia campus the previous Friday, April 12, to talk about Blake and the intense process of composition:

Friday, April 12, 4:30-5:30 pm
in the Lynn Mandel Music Room (A314)

Ancient of Days is inspired by William Blake (1757-1827), whose ideas on gender, spirituality, and the human imagination are remarkably modern. He was unafraid to plumb the depths of the human soul, to exalt creativity as humanity鈥檚 true calling, and steadfastly聽to聽refuse to sacrifice his artistic ideals in the face of crushing poverty and a hostile public. His thoughts, often dense and unsettling, or in contrast deceptively simple, soar above everyday life and take us into his fascinating world of angels, devils, heroes, and innocents.

This new composition presents a Blakean tableau聽of 鈥渃ontraries,鈥� 鈥渆manations,鈥濃�渟pectres,鈥� and 鈥渟hadows鈥� in a brand-new聽鈥渂eatific symphony鈥� for singers, actors, and players. Was Blake an聽unfortunate lunatic, a visionary creator, or both? In discussing the聽musical materials, his compositional process, and ways in which聽Blake’s writing is used to create an imaginary self-portrait,聽Bevan聽invites you to enter the poet’s creative聽world, perhaps to encounter some of yourself there.

An interesting aside: Bevan’s son Brendan, currently studying composition at the U of A, has been ringing with Jubiloso! Bells of Concordia this year.