The greatest Canadian composer

Of course this is going to be very opinionated, but what are your thoughts on this?

Now, my thoughts...

Murray Schaffer often comes to mind as a great Canadian composer, which he is.

So are several of the professors at various universities in Canada.

Now, this is not going to include Pop musicians like Shania Twain, Celine Dion, Stompin'Tom You-Know Who, and the Guess Who.

But, perhaps the most successful Canadian composers of all time, has to be...

Drum Roll please...

...

Howard Shore, of the Lord of the Rings

Of course, he studied at Berkley and works in Holywood, but he was born and raised in Toronto, has Canadian citizenship, therefore, by having 2 Academy Awards and his soundtrack albums selling millions worldwide, as well as with the pleasant tunes among them, I'd like to believe that Howard Shore, is, at present, the greatest Canadian composer.

Any thoughts?

P.S. I don't know about you, but I could catch some Cape Breton influence in the Return of the King :P

Wow, "America of the North" has great composers?????

I kidd, I kidd..... After all, didn't Alanis Morrisette write her own stuff???..... >_<

Though few of you are likely to have heard them:

Kenny Wheeler

Gil Evans

Others who may potentially make the list:

Rob McConnell, Hugh Fraser, John Korsrud, Leonard Cohen, Rufus Wainwright

...

**edit**

Ha...just noticed the 'clout and popularity and weightiness'....in that case.....

NONE. No one I listen to is going to be popular outside a few circles, nor have any clout. Although Gil Evans has this many albums, recorded frequently with Miles Davis, and is considered one of the greatest jazz composers of all time...

If it were about 'creativity, influence, and musicality', then my list stands....who cares about clout and popularity?! If these mattered, than Nickelback are some of the 'greatest Canadian composers'...........HAHAHAHA

Hugh Fraser is very well known

What would happen, if you left a random city in Canada and just walked north, for as long as possible?

What would happen, if you left a random city in Canada and just walked north, for as long as possible?

Eventually, you'd get wet....but first you'd get cold......very, very cold.

Best canadian composer? John Estacio is pretty big out east. His new opera is supposedely the king scraggy of the stage.

For a composer that has some nationalist sentiments, I'd recommend some of the works of Iian Kelso

Ughh... I just read that top post.

I have to say... I've never heard Shore's other works but let me say that the Lord Of The Rings score is not at all representative of Canadian contemporary music.

Violet Archer, Jean Coulthard, Steve Chatman(Whom I'm studying with in september), John Estacio, and Alexina Louie are MUCH more representative of what's going on up here.

It's a bit sad that the Canadian authorities do not provide more funds for developing a uniquely Canadian voice in music to the outside world.

I was reflecting on Australasia where, once they took broadcasting seriously, they seemed to push austral art and music. Although names like Sculthorpe, Edwards, Vine Meale, Westlake et al are hardly on everyone's lips, they are known to afficionados of contemporary music, their work being heavily promoted.

Perhaps it's time Canada did the same.

M

It seems to me though that the direction of Canadian music is decidedly atonal for some queer reason. Or is this the way it is everywhere?

Atonal?

You could argue that.... a lot of Canadian composers are into a style that's sorta like soundscaping. In Vancouver, since we have a large asian poppulation there is a big thing with combining eastern and western traditions. My teacher, Mark Armanini, is really into that. His music is so gorgeous though. Decidedly tonal with an understated romanticism.

Good scraggy.

In my opinion, Claude Vivier (1948-1983) is the greatest composer Canada has yet produced. Unfortunately he is better known for being brutally murdered at the premature age of 34 than his music. He studied in Europe with Stockhausen among others. His music sounds a bit like Messiaen's, yet it's very personal. His musical idiom is characterized by rich, often modally flavored melodies, wonderful spectral harmonies and colorful orchestration.

His best works are arguably Lonely Child, Prologue pour un Marco Polo and Zipangu. You should really check out his music if you haven't heard it yet.

what what what???

who the hell are these people???????????????????

Of course I know who Howard Shore i but,, what the???

Should I know who these people are?

what what what???

who the hell are these people???????????????????

Of course I know who Howard Shore i but,, what the???

Should I know who these people are?

See? This is the problem!

Our government is hopeless when it comes to supporting the arts. Our health care budget is so massive and becoming even more massive that they are afraid to throw us a couple of bucks to get our music out there.

Oh, I'm not picking on you Daniel. It's the MAN that I'm attacking.

Our government is hopeless when it comes to supporting the arts. Our health care budget is so massive and becoming even more massive that they are afraid to throw us a couple of bucks to get our music out there.

Not hopeless at all.....with something like the Canada Council still intact and handing out over $121million a year we're way ahead of our American friends. Not quite a couple of bucks... Also, music is the most awarded discipline, taking $26,802,901 ($4million more than 2nd place Theatre). Granted, some European countries do much better, but it could be considerably worse...

...

Stats based on fiscal year 2004-05

Check out also Provincial Arts Councils, there's actually plenty of Government money out there, you just have to know how to get your hands on it.

what what what???

who the hell are these people???????????????????

Of course I know who Howard Shore i but,, what the???

Should I know who these people are?

The best canadian composer for me is Claude Vivier which was a colorful, gay and fascinating personality (for those interested). He life story is as interesting as his music. There is many mysteries around his suddent death shooted by a man with whom he slept before. A real TV story !

His work Lonely Child is my favorite one. Inspired by a kind of spectral music mixted with the influences of post modernism and Stockhausen's music (with whom he has studied).

But of course, Schafer is the greatest western composer I know. But for the Lord of the Ring's composer's music... well... nice if you like. I only heard there the music of Titanic, Jurassic Park and others all mixted up randomly. But I guess, that's my opinion... but I really really enjoyed the movies though ! ehehe :P

I like John Williams, Frederyk Chopin, L.v. Beethoven (duh), but my favorite is W.A. Mozart. In my opinion, his music surpasses all others.

Wow... I wasn't knowing Mozart was Canadian ! :P

:happytears:

Somebody didn't read the whole title!

:laugh:

Greatest Canadian composer?.... Marius Masalar!!! :P

He's Romanian, right? :sadtears:

Hahahaha! Thank you very much, Jen. That's very kind of you :sadtears:

I am, in fact, born a Romanian, but I've been a Canadian citizen for years so I guess I count as Canadian.

Oh, well eh, in that case, Jen's comment is just aboot right, eh? Yah.

:sadtears: Thanks guys! :thumbsup: