This
collection - entitled
Northern Winds - surveys the
repertoire for wind band, as created by composers from the
orchestra's native Canada. It spans a range of style from
the traditional to the improvised. The Toronto Wind Orchestra,
who specialise in presenting Canadian works, are conducted
by their Music Director and co-founder. He is involved in
a number of projects to develop the Canadian Wind repertoire
and has the distinction of holding the Chair of Music at
Upper Canada College.
High
Spirits lives up to its name with an exuberant and vivacious opening written
in a traditional 'band music' style. The composer’s works
are characterised by exuberant optimism and this piece
is certainly no exception. After this fitting and suitable
opener, the disc ventures into more experimental territory.
Dream
Dancer features solo saxophone supported by the wind band. It explores the
idea of cross-fertilisation of different musical cultures
and traditions in our increasingly international world.
Some
Assembly Required - a phrase which will bring dread
to anyone who, like me, has moved house recently - derives
its title from the incorporation of significant improvised
sections. The rhythmic and harmonic structures are loose
and tone colour is the main organising element.
Gary
Kulesha's
Ensembles which follows continues a contemporary
idiom but brings a return to more traditional form. Instead
of the forward driving force often found in band music, the
music is more circular and reflective, and often characterised
by dissonance.
Laurentian
Moods takes the listener back
to a more familiar territory. Written in 1957 by Harry
Freedman – who played horn in the Toronto Symphony for
25 years – it is based on Quebec folktunes and reflects
the composer's love of big band jazz.
The
disc closes with its only non-Canadian piece: Messiaen's
Oiseaux
Exotiques, in which the wind ensemble are joined by the
Australian-born pianist Simon Docking in the solo part. Of
the bird species whose songs are featured in the piece, no
less than 38 are from North America and the majority of these
are found in Canada. Messiaen's contribution to the music
of the twentieth century - both as a composer and as a teacher
- has been significant, so its inclusion in this survey is
very fitting. His love of birds is well known and the use
of their song is one of his hallmarks. This is a remarkable
piece and the ensemble show their versatility in tackling
its challenges, as they have with the other complex and innovative
works here.
Julie Williams
Wallace
Halliday (saxophone); Simon Docking (piano) 
