Blog

Every year at Soundstreams, we’re thankful for another wonderful year of music, and 2015 was no exception. After a successful 2014/15 season (read our annual report), we wanted to listen to some music to celebrate the holidays, and the end of 2015. Check back often, as this page will continually be updated until the end of the year!

Soundstreams presents ‘Lullaby’ (2002) by Lera Auerbach

‘Lullaby’ is a piece for mixed choir based on William Blake’s poem Cradle Song. Performed by: Calixa Lavallée Singers, Madrigal Singers (University of Alberta), University of Guelph Chamber Choir, University of Manitoba Chamber Choir, and Kaspars Putniņš (conductor)

https://youtu.be/tVeRuQPyzVA

‘Sister Winter’ by Tracey Thorn

A cover of ‘Sister Winter,’ originally by Sufjan Stevens.

‘The Snow Prelude N. 15’ by Ludovico Einaudi

A piece by Italian composer Ludovico Einaudi and released in 2009, from the album ‘Nightbook.’ Of the album, Einaudi stated: “A night-time landscape. A garden faintly visible under the dull glow of the night sky. A few stars dotting the darkness above, shadows of the trees all around. Light shining from a window behind me. What I can see is familiar, but it seems alien at the same time. It’s like a dream – anything may happen.”

‘Jingle Bells Fantasy’ performed by Michael Bridge

Michael Bridge wows with his adaption of Dixie Dean’s accordion arrangement, in April 2013. See Michael in February at our next concert, Squeezebox!

‘Reindeer’ by The Knife

A fun track by The Knife, a band from Sweden, from 2009.

Soundstreams presents ‘Ave Maria’ by Riho Esko Maimets

This work was premiered at The Music of Arvo Pärt concert presented by Soundstreams on October 1, 2013 at Koerner Hall in Toronto, and performed by Choir 21, Virtuoso String Orchestra and Tõnu Kaljuste (conductor).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KPxkKaTmxo

‘Christmas Lullaby’ by Arvo Pärt

This enchanting piece was one of two commissioned by Jordi Savall for his Ensemble Hesperion XXI. Pärt wrote them in 2002 and later arranged them for female choir and string orchestra, stating, “I wrote these two lullabies for adults and for the child within every one of us.”

Soundstreams presents ‘The Four Season Recomposed – Winter I’ by Max Richter

Performed at our concert The Seasons, on September 29, 2014, by violinist Daniel Hope, and Virtuoso String Orchestra. One of the classical repertoire’s best-known standards gives birth to a startling new creation: Max Richter’s reinvention of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons violin concertos. Weaving strands of their musical DNA into his scoring, Richter creates a provocative aural experience that nonetheless remains true to the spirit of its source.

https://youtu.be/czd5w7IGYIQ

‘River’ by Angus Stone

A cover of the Joni Mitchell song ‘River’ that Angus Stone recorded for the 2007 compilation album ‘No Man’s Woman.’ Of the song, Stone wrote in the album notes: “Howdy to whom ever it is that will read this… the river took me down a way that I had been before… just without the beautiful Miss Joni’s skates…”

Soundstreams presents ‘Immortal Bach’ by Knut Nystedt

‘Immortal Bach’ (1987) by Knut Nystedt performed by Elmer Iseler Singers, Vancouver Chamber Choir, Pro Coro Canada and Kaspars Putniņš (conductor) at the Canadian Choral Celebration concert presented by Soundstreams on February 2, 2014 at Koerner Hall.

‘Jingle Bells’ by Booker T & the MGs

From their fourth album, ‘In the Christmas Spirit,’ by southern soul band Booker T & The MGs, and released in November 1966. The album features traditional Christmas carols and songs performed by Booker T & The MGs.