David Dalle
Thursday January 28th, 2016 with David Dalle
Christos Hatzis, Tanya Tagaq; lament for the North

Today we hear Christos Hatzis’s “The Awakening” for string quartet and prepared tape. Composed in 1992, this piece represented, as a recent immigrant to Canada, the composer encountering Canada’s native cultures, particularly Inuit singing he heard on a trip to Iqaulit, in the composer’s words “It was composed at a time in my life which might be best be described as a crossroad, musical and otherwise, and was influenced by my own personal awakening to the richness of Canada’s native cultures, and to how immigrant cultures like my own confronted and nearly destroyed them.” The two cultures are represented by Inuit throat singing and the sound of trains. This quartet in one movement was intended to be spiritually affirming, but I admit, I find it to be an exquisite lament. And hearing this dramatic piece, I am not surprised that over two decades later Christos Hatzis was commissioned by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet to compose “Going Home Star” on the subject of Canada’s notorious Indian Residential Schools. We will hear a few excerpts from “Going Home Star” particularly Act I scenes 3-5 which feature Tanya Tagaq and her heartrending lament. We will also hear some of Tanya Tagaq’s own work and the Northern Cree Singers as well as other First Nations music. “Going Home Star” is receiving its Ottawa premiere tonight with the touring Royal Winnipeg Ballet who will be performing it tonight, Friday, Saturday at the NAC. An extraordinary, moving, distressing, uplifting masterpiece, and I believe the most significant Canadian composition which helps shine a light on this most urgent and crucial Canadian subject. GO SEE IT!!! You can hear the entire "Going Home Star" including an interview with Christos Hatzis on my January 7th program: http://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/105/25351.html At the NAC Jan 28, 29, 30: http://nac-cna.ca/en/event/11175