Torreón, Mexico: circa 1955

48_child_Oct

Not dressed for a Canadian winter! But 30 seasons in the snow have not taken the wave out of his hair or the wind out of his sails.

Look for his photo in two different ads in this issue of theWholeNote, and his name in a single sentence featuring both Bernstein and Mozart.

Think you know who OCTOBER’s child is?

Send your best guess to

musicschildren@thewholenote.com

(please provide your mailing address, just in case your name is drawn!)

Winners will be selected by random draw among correct replies received by October 20, 2009.

CONGRATULATIONS TO

OUR SEPTEMBER WINNERS!

Nancy Martin and Julie Goldstein, as guests of Toronto Consort, each win a pair of tickets to Oh Henry!

Music’s Children gratefully acknowledges Les Voix Humaines, david Fallis and the Toronto Consort, the good people at Analekta and ATMA and Jessica Parkes.

SEPTEMBER’s  CHILD was….

48_Child_Sep09Susie Napper – viola da gambist, cellist, continuo player, educator, curator and consummate collaborator. Susie teaches at McGill University, and in 2001 founded the Festival international Montréal Baroque which is presented in Montreal every June. She was awarded the Prix Opus 2002 for Personality of the Year by the Conseil québécois de la musique.

Her ardent relationship with early music has generated adventurous and colourful performances of solo, duo and chamber music from the 17th and 18th centuries all across Canada and the United States, as well as in China, Japan, New Zealand, India, the Middle East, and most European countries.  She is half of the renowned viol duo “Les Voix Humaines” (with gambist Margaret Little), and is known to appear with Stradivaria in France, the Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montréal, Les Boréades, Ensemble Caprice (based in Montreal), the Trinity Consort of Portland, and Tafelmusik.

She has recorded with Harmonia Mundi, EMI, Erato, ADDA, CBC Records, Naxos, Analekta, and ATMA Classique.

Earliest musical memory?

The Cathedral at Poitiers… I was 3 and the organ was blasting (Bach?) . I remember the power, the seduction…I was mesmerized!

Other musicians in your family?

Father semi-pro pianist…played all the Beethoven sonatas, Chopin, Liszt. Mother amateur violist and music lover. My  brother (one year older) is a fantastic Jazz accordionist and pianist.

Music in your life at the time of that photo?

Ever present! Father practised 6 hours a day. We went to concerts in London several times a week. Musicians around the house…house concerts by young Martha Argerich etc!

48adult suzie w margaretFirst experiences of collaborative music making?

Cello-piano sonatas with my father. My closest friend at the time was Christopher Smith who played the cello and composed, so we played together. First recorder lessons (at school) such fun. From age 10 quartet rehearsals and concerts (at the Menuhin school before it took that name)…we were all under 15 and won all competitions with Mozart and Haydn! Cute.

Les Voix Humaine in Paris

First instrument(s)?

Piano at 6. Recorder 7. Cello 8.

Did you ever think you’d do anything else?

Painter…equal interest.

Why early music and the viola da gamba?

Loved early music from the start…it always spoke to me. I inherited the viol at 23 when my father died... began to play it immediately. I knew about the instrument but had not explored the repertoire, and knew nothing about early French music.

The viol you play today?

The Barak Norman (1703) is beautifully carved all over and has a portrait of Charles 1st instead of a scroll. The label inside states the instrument is a gift for Corelli who sent a student to collect instruments in London in 1702. Did the viol ever leave England? Did Corelli ever play it?

Are the ribbons  part of viol-playing history?

The ribbons are my own thing, but you do see ribboned instruments in paintings.

If you could travel back through time and meet face to face with the child in that photo is there anything you would like to say to her?

Don’t let them get you down! For instance: the piano teacher who said she had no talent, the private school that told her she was dumb, and the ballet teacher who told her she was too fat.

Recordings / Upcoming engagements

Telemann and the Baroque Gypsies, with Ensemble Caprice: pieces by Telemann as well as Gypsy melodies and dances from the Uhrosvka Collection (1730), arranged by Matthias Maute (ANALKETA,  October 6 209)

I Mercanti di Venezia with Montreal Baroque: Venetian 17th century music by Jewish composers Augustine Bassano, Giovanni Bassanon, and Salomone Rossi. (ATMA, May 25 2010)

Susie performs Oct 17 with Ensemble Caprice (Bach and the Bohemian Gypsies) as guests of the Barrie Concert Association.

One of Susie’s current projects has been organising the restoration of a collection of six 17th and 18th century instruments known as The Hart House Viols, and an ATMA recording of Henry Purcell’s Fantasias featuring the viols. It was released in April (ATMA 22591).

WholeNote-area audiences will have the opportunity to hear the Hart House viols live in concert  when an expanded Les Voix humaines perform as guests of the Toronto Consort (Oh Henry! Oct 30 &31).

Welcome back to our 6th season of
We are ALL Music’s Children!

SEPTEMBER’s Child…

musics child-sept2009jpg
London, England: circa 1955

What an old soul looks out of this young  face! She’s a kindred spirit to another whose face, less mobile, haunts this issue of the WholeNote.

More coincidences? Both have acquired a penchant for ribbons. Each in their own ways has crossed oceans, continents, and centuries to delight audiences. Both continue to inspire string players to free “the human voice.”

Think you know who SEPTEMBER’s child is? Send your best guess to musicschildren@thewholenote.com

(please provide your mailing address, just in case your name is drawn!)

Winners will be selected by random draw among correct replies received by September 20, 2009.

THE MUSIC’S CHILDREN SUMMER QUIZ: how many did you guess?

Which of our Children said:

There are three kinds of people in the world
John Tuttle

It’s standard rep!
...
Noel Edison

Skipping all the way to the theatre singing my part over and over again. It made me feel giddy inside... Karina Gauvin
44no1gauvin
Karina Gauvin, 1976

I didn’t decide to be a musician. It just happened
...
George Brough

We still get along well enough to play together!... Lara St. John
44no3Lara_and_Scott
Scott and Laura St. John. 1976

The winner takes it all
Louise Pitre

You are going to have the most fortunate of all lives
Jean Ashworth Bartle

Music is the great transcender!
...
Adi Braun

I have since fractured my wrist, sprained a finger, slashed through my thumb while cooking...Christina Petrowska Quilico
44no2petrowska
Christina Petrowska Quilico, 1958

I removed all the strings from the violin, and the bridge fell off.  Assuming I had permanently destroyed the instrument I threw it in the trash
...
Jackie Parker

Whose childhood photo could have been called:

You Can’t Beat This!
Robert Aitken

Babe on the Beach
Roman Borys

Happy Birthday to Yooooou!
David Fallis

This take felt good!
Guido Basso

When I grow up, I’m going to have a much nicer wig than that.
Ivars Taurins

A concert for one
Jacques Israelievitch

Trivia! Who…

…has a collection of (at least ) 64 bow ties?
Boris Brott

…played four years of girls high-school rugby?
44no5measha
Measha Brueggergosman (1986 photo)

…was told she might make a good Forest Ranger or Fire Fighter?
Denise Djokic

...sang the title track for “Little Mosque on the Prairie”?
Maryem Toller

…has a CD called “She’s Sweetest When She’s Naked”
Alison Melville

WHOSE advice was ... ?

Don’t ever squeeze a weasel!
Ruth Watson Henderson

Don’t let nobody steal your joy!
Jackie Richardson

Don’t ever trust conductors!
Angele Dubeau

Better to be in the parade than standing around watching as it goes by.
Ray Tizzard

Subdivide and conquer!
Russell Hartenberger

I would encourage everyone to expose young people to great music of all kinds. But it’s possible to develop a love for music at any stage of life.
Peter Oundjian

 

By mJ buell

Who are Music's Children? Some thoughts, and a Quiz!

Looking back at the 45 musician profiles (so far) that have appeared in The WholeNote's "Music's Child" contest since it began 2005 is thought provoking. Some have parents who were themselves musicians, but as many have parents who were not. And while many were born in other countries or came to Canada as young people, as many had parents and grandparents who were born here. Only some knew from childhood that they would become musicians.

Among the common threads is information we should treasure, and share with those who have children. In response to the question What is your earliest musical memory? the most common replies were "my mother singing" and, "there was always music playing in our home."As well, mention was made of radio (especially the CBC), vinyl records, family members who sang to them as little children, and friends and family making informal music together. There is no mystery here - children who grow up with music will have a lifelong relationship with it.

And now, to keep you busy all summer long:

MUSIC'S CHILDREN: THE QUIZ!

Prizes will be awarded to those who are able to correctly answer the most questions. (Send your answers to the usual address: see below.)

Which of our "Music's Children" said:

1. There are three kinds of people in the world...

2. It's standard rep!

3. ...skipping all the way to the theatre singing my part over and over again. It made me feel giddy inside.

4. I didn't decide to be a musician. It just happened.

5. . ...we still get along well enough to play together!

6. The winner takes it all...

7. You are going to have the most fortunate of all lives...

8. Music is the great transcender!

9. I have since fractured my wrist, sprained a finger, slashed through my thumb while cooking...

10. ...I removed all the strings from the violin, and the bridge fell off. Assuming I had permanently destroyed the instrument I threw it in the trash...

Their WholeNote childhood photo could have been called:

11. You Can't Beat This!

12. Babe on the Beach

13. Happy Birthday to Yooooou!

14. This take felt good!

15. When I grow up, I'm going to have a much nicer wig than that.

16. A concert for one

Ultimate trivia questions! Who...

17. ...has a collection of (at least ) 64 bow ties?

18. ...played four years of girls high-school rugby?

19 ...was told she might make a good Forest Ranger or Fire Fighter?

20. ...sang the title track for "Little Mosque on the Prairie"?

21. ...has a CD called "She's Sweetest When She's Naked"

Best advice:

22. Don't ever squeeze a weasel!

23. Don't let nobody steal your joy!

24. Don't ever trust conductors!

25. Better to be in the parade than standing around watching as it goes by.

26. Subdivide and conquer!

27. I would encourage everyone to expose young people to great music of all kinds.

YOU TELL US!

Whose photos should appear in our 2009-2010 contest season? Send your best ideas to musicschildren@thewholenote.com. Please provide your mailing address, just in case your candidate is chosen.

We might have a prize for you!

JUNE’s Child…

Is Four Years Old!

2009-2010 will be Music’s Children’s fifth season celebrating remarkable lives in music! In the July/August double issue we’ll have a special retrospective quiz for you!


Here’s  Our JUNE contest!

Please tell us whose photos should appear in our 2009-2010 contest season.

Send your best ideas to musicschildren@thewholenote.com

Please provide your mailing address, just in case your candidate is chosen.

We might have a prize for you!

Read more: JUNE’s Child…
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