Notes

Par/by Crystal Chan & Philippe Gervais / June 14, 2009

Emc Loses Home And Resources In Library And Archives Canada

Library and Archives Canada withdrew access to its research collection and cancelled office space and resources for The Encyclopedia of Music in Canada in mid-May. At that time all access to the library for non-LAC workers, such as volunteers and external agencies like the EMC, was cancelled. Access to the stacks is also denied to those enrolled in LAC practicum courses, which provides work experience for university students. LAC Archives Head Daniel Caron revoked access for potential security reasons just three weeks after he stepped into his portfolio.

According to Senior Subject Editor Betty King, EMC was given only e-mail notice just a few days before having to move out. She said the EMC had never proven to be a cause for security issues in the past. Since May 14, EMC has lost its office and has had to make written applications in order to re-access materials in the library.

The EMC has occupied space in LAC ’s Ottawa building since its inception over 30 years ago. The encyclopedia is committed to documenting the wide variety of Canadian music and musical culture in all genres. It published two print editions, one in 1981 and one in 1992, before becoming accessible in a searchable online database through the Historica Foundation.

The EMC is still in operation, and its editors are attempting to work out a possible solution with LAC. “EMC remains hopeful that we can work something out with LAC, and that a solution can be found so that we can continue to have quick and easy access to their specialized music collections,” said King. “Discussions with LAC are underway. Since the research we do is so specialized and has to be done by specialists with a music background, reducing our access to the same level that the general public has will not be sufficient to meet our needs. The specialized music collections and music Canadiana that LAC holds are invaluable to EMC’s daily operations.” CC

La petite bande est sauvee !

On s’en souviendra, l’orchestre de Sigiswald Kuijken, la Petite Bande, menacé de perdre les subventions qui assuraient sa survie, avait réagi en lançant une pétition Internet. Devant le succès de l’opération (près de 21 000 signatures venues du monde entier), le ministère de la Culture de la Belgique a changé d’avis et redonne à l’orchestre les moyens de poursuivre son œuvre au moins jusqu’en 2012. Bel exemple des fruits que peut porter la solidarité entre musiciens et mélomanes, d’autant qu’on compte parmi les signataires la plupart des grands noms de la musique ancienne (Savall, Gardiner, Bartoli…), mais aussi d’autres interprètes qui ne sont pas forcément associés à ce répertoire (Daniel Barenboim, Alexandre Tharaud…). PG

Montreal Park Named In Honour Of Oscar Peterson

After a highly publicized but failed October 2008 attempt to rename Lionel-Groulx metro station after Oscar Peterson, the city of Montreal has approved the renaming of Campbell Centre Park to pay tribute to the legendary jazz pianist, who passed away in Mississaugua in December 2007. Plans are in motion for the park to host music festivals and other public events beginning this summer.

Peterson, an officer of the Order of Canada and a winner of the Governor General’s Award, grew up just blocks away from the park in the Little Burgundy neighbourhood. A group of lobbyists from the neighbourhood, The Coalition of Little Burgundy, started pushing for the name change shortly after Peterson’s passing. The same coalition, led by Université de Montréal law student Michael Citrome, had also lobbied to rename the metro station.

Campbell Centre Park was originally named after Charles Campbell, a lawyer who left funding for the creation of parks and music concerts for the public after he passed away in 1923. Now that the approval of the Campbell family and the municipal government has been received, Campbell’s two original aims will be joined as one, with a public park honouring a music great and featuring musical performances. CC

Competitions

Concours Musical International de Montréal – Chant 2009

Premier prix : Angela Meade, soprano, USA

Deuxième prix : Yannick-Muriel Noah, soprano, Canada

Troisième prix : Andrew Garland,

baritone, USA

2009 Eckhardt Gramatté National Music Competition in Strings

1st Prize and City of Brandon Prize : Carissa Klopoushak, violin

2nd Prize : Alexander Read, violin

3rd Prize : Jessica Tong, violin

2009 Pulitzer Prize in Music

Steve Reich, Double Sextet

2009 Polar Music Prize 2009

British rock legend Peter Gabriel and Venezuelan composer and conductor Jose Antonio Abreu

14-8 Errata

In his article “Lucia di Lammermoor: Madness and Mayhem at the Montreal Opera”, Joseph So says that he heard Eglise Gutierrez as the Fairy Godmother in Rossini’s La Cenerentola in Santa Fe; in fact, he heard her in Massenet’s Cendrillon.