Why the Archive?

“The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see” (Winston Churchill)

While commending our “superb musicianship”, an early review of our concerts described them as “witty, erudite and ferociously well-researched”. We believe the amount of information with which they are packed has made them, probably, unique in the field. Initially, the principal benefit was felt by the Artistic Directors who engaged in this research. Now we have the opportunity to allow the wider world, not just the original audience, to become beneficiaries.

Our target areas include teachers in universities, music schools and elsewhere, who will be well aware that those in their care have new and very different ways of accessing information, the web being a prime source. Performers and students who stand to benefit from using our archive include emerging artists, both singers and pianists, who will receive valuable help in planning their own concerts. Musicologists and others engaging in cultural studies will find much information about performance history. Furthermore, audiences, past and future, and other music-lovers will have a bird’s eye view of the careers of many of their favourite artists. In short, our archive provides a conspectus of art song literature from 1600 to the present day, and of the world of Canadian singers of the last three decades.

Performers, teachers and students

• Use an easily accessible online tool, in conjunction with libraries and other internet resources.
• Discover the vast repertoire of recital music for voice and piano, including much that is little performed today, in many different languages.
• Examine at a glance the way we have formed this heritage into concert programmes, taking great care over the balance of voices and styles, timing, dramatic pacing and in the use of narrative material.
• Become aware of the value of concise, informative programme notes and clear, readable translations.
• Discover how an historical or literary context can bring repertoire to life and enhance the learning, performing and listening experience.
• Find out about the history of Canadian song and of Canadian performers over three decades.

Concert audiences and other music-lovers

• Review the careers of many of your favourite artists.
• Discover a wide range of music, much of which is unfamiliar, to enhance your appreciation of performances.
• Revisit cherished events from our past thirty years of concerts.

On our website, you will find:

• The date and place of each concert, beginning in February 1982.
• Details of each piece, with the composer, poet and performer.
• An explanation of the idea behind each concert and a description of the most important aspects of research.
• Scans of each house programme.
• Many recordings of our concerts.

Happy researching!