Gemini/Janus Project
In February of 2001, Saskatoon pianist Annette Floyd proposed her Gemini/Janus project to commission two short original works from each of several prairie-based composers. One work would be for piano, and the other for organ. The works would express two aspects of prairie, preferably opposing or complementary aspects. The idea was to create a highly portable program representative of several composers living and working in the prairies, with the goal of a premiere in Saskatoon, and subsequent performances across Saskatchewan and Europe. Through the Saskatoon Composers Performance Society (SCPS) and with the help of a grant from the Saskatchewan Arts Board, it came to fruition.
The SCPS's first event of the season featured Annette Floyd was a concert of this new music for piano and organ October 31, 2001 featuring works by Saskatchewan composers: Alex Brooks, Freeze and Thaw; David Kaplan, The Heights Dance Prologue; Landis Maitland-Whitelaw, Wind in the Field Celebration; Neil Middleton, Two Prairie Sketches; Lia Pas, Ground Beneath Grass, and Space Above Plains; Betsy Raum, Wascana Park Fast Lane; and Tom Schudel, Dust Devils. All of these performances were world premieres and plans are underway for the European premieres. This concert program was also performed at Enid, Oklahoma on December 30, 2001. The SCPS has been invited to present this program at the 2002 Mahler Festival in Iglau, Moravia, Czech Republic, Prague, and Paris.
The SCPS plans to honour co-founders Annette Floyd and Monte Keene Pishny-Floyd with a series of concerts in honour of their 60th birthdays and their 30 years of contribution to new music in Saskatoon and Canada, as well as internationally. The first concert, chamber music by Pishny-Floyd, was presented April 7, 2002 at Mayfair United Church in Saskatoon. The second, vocal music and theatre-pieces by Pishny-Floyd, was presented at the Mendel Art Gallery in Saskatoon. Both featured Annette Floyd as pianist - soloist, accompanist, and performer chamber music. The May 5 concert is part of the SCPS Festival of New Sask Music - 2002. On May 18, 2002, Annette Floyd presented a concert in Regina, Saskatchewan of short works for piano and organ commissioned for her by the SCPS and recorded by CBC for broadcast on "Gallery", part of her "Gemini/Janus" project.
The SCPS's first event of the season featured Annette Floyd was a concert of this new music for piano and organ October 31, 2001 featuring works by Saskatchewan composers: Alex Brooks, Freeze and Thaw; David Kaplan, The Heights Dance Prologue; Landis Maitland-Whitelaw, Wind in the Field Celebration; Neil Middleton, Two Prairie Sketches; Lia Pas, Ground Beneath Grass, and Space Above Plains; Betsy Raum, Wascana Park Fast Lane; and Tom Schudel, Dust Devils. All of these performances were world premieres and plans are underway for the European premieres. This concert program was also performed at Enid, Oklahoma on December 30, 2001. The SCPS has been invited to present this program at the 2002 Mahler Festival in Iglau, Moravia, Czech Republic, Prague, and Paris.
The SCPS plans to honour co-founders Annette Floyd and Monte Keene Pishny-Floyd with a series of concerts in honour of their 60th birthdays and their 30 years of contribution to new music in Saskatoon and Canada, as well as internationally. The first concert, chamber music by Pishny-Floyd, was presented April 7, 2002 at Mayfair United Church in Saskatoon. The second, vocal music and theatre-pieces by Pishny-Floyd, was presented at the Mendel Art Gallery in Saskatoon. Both featured Annette Floyd as pianist - soloist, accompanist, and performer chamber music. The May 5 concert is part of the SCPS Festival of New Sask Music - 2002. On May 18, 2002, Annette Floyd presented a concert in Regina, Saskatchewan of short works for piano and organ commissioned for her by the SCPS and recorded by CBC for broadcast on "Gallery", part of her "Gemini/Janus" project.
posted by Annette Floyd at 7:24 PM
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