You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
clarinets and symphony -. who the<br />
hell is going to write a piece for two<br />
clarinets and symphony? Obviously<br />
this was going to be an obstacle. I<br />
thought about it for a while and I<br />
wrote Dutoit and said "Thank you<br />
for the commission but in lieu of the<br />
fact that the Montreal Symphony has<br />
virtually ignored my repertoire during<br />
my lifetime, I see no reason why<br />
I should spend 8 or 9 .months writing<br />
a work for one single performance".<br />
But I wished him well. It<br />
wasri't personal.<br />
STEENHUISEN: Don't you think<br />
that by aicepting the commission and<br />
tailoring it to your interests that you 're<br />
making a step towards counteracting<br />
the ignorance of your music?<br />
WEINZWEIG: No. My name<br />
came up from a committee that was<br />
adVising the Montreal Symphony. The<br />
selection wasn't made by Dutoit, it was<br />
made for him. Don't forget that I was<br />
not a young composer anymore. I<br />
had no reason to grab this commission.<br />
I didn't need them. It couldn't<br />
further my career-I either had a career<br />
ordidn't. Itreirundsmeofsomeyears<br />
ago when the Victoria Symphony had<br />
a grant to put on some concerts of contemporary<br />
music. They weren't doing<br />
very \\fell at bringing in the audience.<br />
The next thing I see is a photo<br />
of a pair of singing dogs in the newspaper,<br />
hired for a contemporary music<br />
coocert presented by the Victoria Symphony.<br />
Two singing dogs, auditioned<br />
and hired from New York to put on<br />
their concert of contemporary music!<br />
I was very angry about this. I wrote a<br />
letter to the Canada Council and suggested<br />
"Next time you get a request<br />
for funds from the Victoria Symphony<br />
I suggest you send them a box of dog<br />
food". That message was transmitted<br />
to the Victoria Symphony. As a result,<br />
I have not been performed by the·<br />
Victoria Symphony.<br />
lf you speak your mind, then<br />
there's the risk that you're going to<br />
be left out in the cold, and I could<br />
accept that. I would speak my mind,<br />
and I would lose a performance here<br />
or there, but so what? That wasn't<br />
going to change my life. I could<br />
still write music and hope and dream<br />
that someday somebody will play it.<br />
If you're·a composer you hope and<br />
dream anyway. That's a big part of<br />
writing music.<br />
Part II of t~ interview will<br />
appear in the July/August<br />
issue of WholeNote<br />
lJy Jim Galloway<br />
.ft '\I· IS .J\zz<br />
<strong>June</strong> is Jazz<br />
Bustin' Out All Over! Los Hombres Ca/ientes<br />
FE'SllVAL SFM)N rets into full swing A Midsi.unmer Night's<br />
second half of this month with JVC Dream Come True<br />
and Toronto Downtown Jazz events Every year in France at the summer<br />
.and their slew ofheadlirers. NC, with solstice, amateur and professional mua<br />
somewhat lower profile this year, has sicians take to streets, parks and pub<br />
Medeski, Martin and Wood as their lie squares for Fete de l1l Musique, a<br />
big money act, along with appearaoces free, public celebration of music in all<br />
by Jackie McLean with Cedar Walton, its forms, traditional, classical, jazz,<br />
KennyGarretandTheHerbaliser. The techno, salsa and world. Launched in<br />
action is pretty well concentrated at 1982, the Fete began to be "exported"<br />
Harbourfront Centre, Top O' The in 1985 (the European Year ofM\l<br />
Senator and The Rex.<br />
sic). It is now celebrated in over one<br />
Toronto Downtown Jazz has a Jin}. hunlred countries worldwide.<br />
up that in:ludes Maynard Ferguson, In France it is a great popular dem<br />
The Dave Brubeck Quartet, The Coont onstration, a symbolic manifestation of<br />
Basie Orchestra, Dave Holland, Pat the solid link between the arts and poli<br />
Martino and Arturo Sandoval. There tics. The Freix:h people, as a matter of<br />
is an increased level of free program- cpurse, expect the state to provide and<br />
ming this year. The last two days of fund culture, in the same way as they<br />
the event will use an additional stage at · expect the state to provide and fund<br />
City Hall instead of moving to Uiti.ver- adequate health care.<br />
sity Avemre as in the past two years. HeretootherewillbeasttungFreoch<br />
These concerts will still be free, and preseoce.h.ln!21. AtHarboorfrontCen- ,<br />
the headlirers will be John Scofield and tre, as part of the NC festival the Erik<br />
Los Hombres Calientes. Both were Truffilz Ladyland Quartet will give an<br />
billed but disappointed last year. The evening concert; earlier in the day<br />
difference - Scofield is free this year, (5pm) drummer Fraix:ois Huchard and<br />
which will be a treat for the army of his Quintet will be at Nathan Phillips<br />
fans he has won in this town. Aro Square as part of Toronto Downtown<br />
Los Hombres will definitely not be Jazz. lnthespiritofFetedelaMusique,<br />
raiml off as they were last <strong>June</strong>. No, both events are free.<br />
Ihavenotbecvmeanaccurateweather The Freix:h presence does not end<br />
forecaster (livestheresuchacrearure?). there, however. Throughout the fol<br />
The marquee used for mainstage con- lowing week Freix:h musicians Alain<br />
certs during the first eight days will Brunet, Llorca, ooJazz and the Baptiste<br />
become a fallback venue. Come rain Trotigoon Trio will hoist the tricolour.<br />
or shine, the bmls will play, albeit to. I shall hoist a Pernod!<br />
smaller crowds if UIXler canvas.<br />
IN THE CUJBS THE STAKES get raised a bit<br />
FESTIVALHYffilSLWAlLYcemredamnxl during festival fever. SeanrusB~ and<br />
the big names coming into town, but Ira Sullivan will be at Top O' The<br />
one of the potential strengths of a fes- Senator, RobMcCoIUJell TentetatThe<br />
tival is the opportunityit gives to lesser- Rex and Marian McPartland, Dick<br />
known artists to be heard by a larger HymanandD.D. Jackson confirm The<br />
audience. I suspect that a large IllJlllber Montreal Bistro as the best piano room<br />
of the thousands of people who lllm in town. For complete festival inforout<br />
at festival time never see the in- mation check out the websites where<br />
side of a jazz club and a considerable you will find full listings. For NC go<br />
numberdon'tevenhearlivejazzfrom to www.festivalproductions.net and<br />
one festival until the next. It is some- for Toronto Downtown Jazz visit<br />
thing I have never quite uOOerstood, www.torontojazz.com.<br />
but I do krowthatl seeagoodlymnber Remember too that the month does<br />
of faces at festival time and at oo other. mt begin <strong>June</strong> 14. There are two weeks<br />
So check out the amazing array of of gOOd ~ic leading up to the festivenues<br />
in our Jazz Listh¥ on page val marathon. Maybe you should get<br />
37, and get into the habit! into training by catching some of it.<br />
Hear<br />
the<br />
colour<br />
of<br />
•<br />
<strong>June</strong> 1 ,.. Ju y 7 <strong>2002</strong><br />
www.thewholenote.com