> Back to the 'Legacy' page
 |
|
Chor Leoni |
 |
|
www.chorleoni.org |
|
Vancouver's Chor Leoni Men's Choir embarked on a 1997
bi-coastal tour entitled Canadian Safari, with performances in
Vancouver, on Salt Spring Island, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia,
and Prince Edward Island. To make it a truly Canadian
experience, Artistic Director Diane Loomer, C.M., set out to
find a wide array of Canadian folksongs. It quickly became
apparent that no such program could be considered complete
unless it included the music of Stan Rogers. |
This presented somewhat of a challenge: How do you take the distinctively
solo sound of Stan Rogers' songs and translate them into a choral idiom
while remaining true to their folk roots? Ms. Loomer turned to well-know
choral arranger (as well as Chor Leoni member) Ron Smail, for this
somewhat daunting task. He came through with flying colours, providing
arrangements for four of Stan Rogers' classics: Fogarty's Cove,
Northwest Passage, Barrett's Privateers, and Make and Break
Harbour. Ron's arrangements of Fogarty's Cove and Make and Break
Harbour are available from Cypress Music. [http://www.cypresschoral.com]
Initially there was some fear that the choir was bringing coals to
Newcastle, but they were quickly disproved as audiences on both coasts
loved these arrangements of Stan Rogers' songs as sung by Canada's
premiere male choir! Frequently audience members sang along, and often
were moved to tears. There was no doubt that they had to be recorded.
|
Ms. Loomer viewed the opportunity to record these arrangements as not only
adding to both the legacy of Stan Rogers' music and folk music, but also
as an addition to the greater world of Canadian music as a whole. They
provided an excellent opportunity to showcase the communicative powers of
a great male choir when presented with a powerful song.
In June 2004 the choir once again sang a concert entitled Canadian Safari,
drawing upon more of the vast wealth of Canadian folksongs available.
Although this concert (and subsequent CD, Canadian Safari II) focuses more
on the Western portion of the country and British Columbia in particular,
the program included four more Stan Rogers' tunes as arranged by Smail.
Bruce Hoffman, Director of Communications
www.chorleoni.org |
 |
|
Audio Downloads: |
|
Fogarty's Cove
Northwest Passage
Barrett's Privateers
Make & Break Harbour |
|
|
Canadian Safari II |
 From
the same pride of lions who brought you Canadian Safari comes their
latest collection of Canada's best folk music,
Canadian Safari
II, released on the Cypress Recording label. This includes
additional Stan Rogers pieces: The Nancy, Watching the Apples
Grow, Field Behind the Plough, and Mary Ellen Carter. |
|
Back to the 'Legacy' page
Home |
|
|
|
|
|
|
More Fan Stuff! |
|
Looking for downloads, trivia, and other goodies? Check
out our fan page! |
|
Get more fan
stuff |
|
The Music of Stan Rogers |
Stan's recorded legacy continues to teach us of the
Canadian experience and entertain us in the process. |
|
Songs & albums |
|
