After the success of the two volume Soprano edition of our Canadian Opera Anthology, we are now pleased to release the next instalment, volume 1 and 2 for baritone and bass. These new additions to the series follow the style of the soprano edition, set up by Stephanie Nakagawa, P.h.D., on whose doctoral thesis this series is based. This Baritone/Bass edition features 28 arias from Canadian operas, arranged chronologically, from 1946 to 2021. Fully 19 of the 28 arias are from 21st century operas, with a wide range of subjects. From Harry Somers – Louis Riel, Healey Willan’s Deirdre and Jean Couthard’s The Return of the Native, to operas by James Rolfe, Rodney Sharman, Leslie Uyeda, Alice Ping Ye Ho, Victor Davies, Peter-Anthony Togni and Chan Ka Nin. We have included more arias from Quebec composers such as Jacques Hetu, Julien Bilodeau. We have included arias from two operas dealing the the subject of Gay relationships (Les feluettes by Kevin March and librettist Michel-Marc Bouchard and When the suns comes out by Leslie Uyeda and librettist Rachel Rose). Explore these operas and buy these scores through these links, where you can see the contents and see score excerpts:
or commission your own work!
Archive for Composers
We are pleased to include this recent string quartet by Ottawa composer James K. Wright, Ellen At Scattergood, to our catalogue:
Notes from the composer:
Lac Scattergood lies in the Outaouais region of southwestern Québec, situated close to Lac McGregor and the nearby town of Val-des-Monts, less than a one-hour drive across the Ottawa River from the city of Ottawa, Canada’s national capital. Written for Ellen Cray who with her husband, own a cottage at Lac Scattergood, it is ultimately programmatic in inspiration, it is otherwise largely “absolute music” in the traditional sense. The majority of its basic thematic ideas and their development are therefore purely musical in nature, without extra-musical associations. However the emotional character, texture, tempi, and rhythmic animation of each movement are inspired by Lac Scattergood and my understanding of the many moods and textures of David and Ellen’s life at their cottage.
Listen movement 1
Listen movement 3
Golden Harvest is an oratorio for mixed chorus, solo soprano and baritone, and orchestra, or piano reduction. Written for the 100th anniversary of Ukrainian settlement in Canada. Canadian-Ukrainian composer Larysa Kuzmenko wrote this work to the libretto of another Canadian-Ukrainian, Talia (Natalia) Zajac. This was premiered by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and a mixed choir of local groups, on March 17, 2016. It went on to be performed by a number of other groups, Saskatoon Symphony, McGill Chamber Orchestra and Regina Symphony. With current events bringing all things Ukrainian to general notice, this work deserves to be performed again. The Centre for Opera Studies and Appreciation in Toronto, will be performing this twice June 7 & 8, 2022 under the direction of Darryl Edwards at Humbercrest United Church and Lansing United Church, both in Toronto. Buy vocal score.
At last the promised second volume of the Soprano edition of our Canadian Opera Anthology has been released and is ready for you to order. Check out this link which gives you the list of contents with excerpt pages from each aria. It is being offered at an introductory sale price for a limited time. Get your copy soon. Soprano volume 2
We are very pleased to announce the launch of the first book in a series of arias from a wide range of Canadian Operas. Arrange by voice, the first and second volumes are for soprano. Volume 1 is available. Volume 2 will debut early in the new year. For a limited time, volume 1 is on sale for $34. Soprano Volume 1-details-buy
Winter 2020 issue – COVID-Friendly performance works; Gary Kulesha’ new Oboe Concerto for Bede Hanley premiered in October in Auckland; Release of the new Canadian Opera Anthology-Soprano volume 1
December 15, 2018 – Just released, our Winter, 2018 issue As usual our newsletters are only 2 pages long. We know you have other demands on your time and you don’t want to read long things…
-Featuring Gustav Mahler‘s series of Retushcen (Retouched) Scores, works from the Classics which made them more suitable to modern concert halls, which include works by Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann and Smetana.
-Anniversaries for Vaughan Williams works
– New publications of chamber works for cello, trombone, trumpet, organ and violin
– Reissued brass chamber works by Malcolm Forsyth
– Dan Locklair’s very popular organ work, Rubrics is 30.
– Counterpoint now has a YouTube Channel to listen and learn about more of our works
Our Summer/Fall issue focused on a number of new publications of chamber works by John Beckwith, Gary Kulesha, Malcolm Forsyth, Donald Steven and Kelly-Marie Murphy.
Read Web version -Highlights Winter 2017
feature articles – Victor Davies new opera The Ecstasy of Rita Joe
New Publications from Johnny Cowell – Playful Trumpets – brass quintet; Kelly-Marie Murphy – The Lonely Road – cello and piano; Donald Steven – Pages of Solitary Delights – medium voice and piano; Bramwell Tovey – Songs from the Paradise Saloon – solo trumpet part for trumpet concerto; Bramwell Tovey – Lincoln Tunnel – solo trombone part for trombone concerto; Malcolm Forsyth – These Cloud Capp’d Towers – solo trombone and piano reduction for trombone concerto; Jacob Plachta – Celebration, wind ensemble version (Young Composers’ Series)
+ Gary Kulesha recent performances and new works; Jeffrey McCune – Composer and Visual Artist.
Click here to enjoy our 2-page Fall, 2017 Highlights newsletter. This one features a number of choral and vocal works just released by Kelly-Marie Murphy – The Darkest Midnight in December; Eric Robertson – Variations on the Sussex Carol, Richard Cohen – Eight Bright Candles, Larysa Kuzmenko – Christmas Bells and Dreams, Bramwell Tovey – Rittenhouse Carol; Victor Togni – Alleluia!; Gary Kulesha – Blue Heron Near the Old Mill;
Also featured – Kelly-Marie Murphy’s win of the prestigious Azrieli Foundation composition award to create a double concerto for cello and harp based on a proposal for a new work which expresses an aspect of the Jewish experience with the utmost creativity, artistry and musical excellence. This work will be premiered at a Gala concert on October 15, 2018.