Annual American Composers Update
Violet Archer
Violet Archer, who has moved to Ottawa, Canada, returned
to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to be honored by the Alberta
Choral Federation, October 23, 1998. Her
Piano Sonatina
No. 1 is in publication. On May 31, 1998, the Studia
Music Institute, in Ottawa, gave a recital in honor of
Archer, with Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association
students performing
Haunted Cave, Jig, Bagatelles Nos.
1-4, Three Moon Songs, In Church (12 Miniatures), Prelude
and Allegro, and Preludes Nos. 3 and 1.
Premieres
On March 28, 1999, mezzo-soprano Suzanne Summerville,
accompanied by pianist Janila Hlashive, will present
Songs
of the North.
Performances
Anthea Jackson and Jane Perry played Archer's
Sonata
for clarinet and piano, Oct. 14, 1998 at the Banff
(Alberta) Centre. To commemorate Archer's departure from
Edmonton, the University of Alberta Department of Music
produced a farewell concert, Apr. 25, 1998, including
Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano, with David
England and Alexandra Munn;
"There are pidgeons on
the roof of the little chapel", with the Chanteuses,
Heather Bedford-Clooney, conductor; Celeste Best, mezzo-soprano;
John Mahon, clarinet; Sarah Muir, soprano; and Ann Nichols,
piano;
Kaleidoscopio (five songs, text from
Il
Fiore nel Bicchiere by Gisella Azzi), with soprano
Aliya Ahmad and pianist Jessica Agrell-Smith;
Improvisations
on "Veni Creator", with organist Stillman Matheson;
Piano Sonata No. 2, with pianist Charles Foreman; as well
as works by Archer's students. In 1999, music scheduled
to be heard with soprano K. Zaczy Benner and pianist Chris
Dalin included
Three Biblical Songs and
Kaleidoscopio
(both Jan. 21); and
Songs of the North (May 5).
Archer attended the Donne in Musica (Women in Music) Festival
in Fiuggi, Italy Sept. 8-13, 1998, where she heard performances
of her
Saxophone Quartet, Sept. 10 and 13. The
Brahms Choir of Ottawa, led by Düteland Gard, sang
Psalm
100, Psalm 96, Introit, and
Choral Prayer at
a Southminster United Church concert, Nov. 29, 1998.
Publications
Songs of North; soprano and mezzo-soprano versions.
Further Information
