The June 13 presentation of New Music for Old Hands (details below) includes the world premiere of The First Song I Remember… for bell choir and piano, by Alex Eddington. Composed in collaboration with the members of a bell choir in a Mississauga seniors’ home, the piece unlocks the memory of an Italian song that several of the participants remembered from childhood: “Quel Mazzolin del Fiori”.
Labdara Lithuanian Nursing Home hosts an afternoon talk/concert with composers who wrote modern music for amateur handbell choir and piano.
The New Music for Old Hands project brings composers into long-term care to connect with the people who live there who play in an amateur handbell choir.
Each matinee concert of this series will premiere a composition that came out of these meetings, performed by the Labdara bell choir and Laura Gillis (conductor/pianist). The composer will be present, in person or virtually, to give a talk and share some more music.
April 18th - Laura Gillis
May 2nd - Adam Scime
May 16th - Louise Campbell (virtual)
May 30th - Lieke van der Voort (virtual)
June 13: Alex Eddington will talk about his experience with collaborative composing, and will share some music he wrote with youth and community ensembles. The Labdara bell choir will premiere Alex's piece, The First Song I Remember...
June 20th - Martin van de Ven
Produced with the support of the City of Toronto through Toronto Arts Council. We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.