Sudbury-based composer premieres work at TNO

Sudbury-based composer, Dan Bédard, premiered his new work, Galipo,  at the Theatre Du Nouvel Ontario April 10.

Bédard wrote the piece after long-time friend and artist Michel Galipeau passed away. His inspiration for this piece came from Galipeau's sketches.

“It started several years back,” he said. “I used to go to Books and Beans with Michel Galipeau, the artist, and the poet Michel Dallaire, and we started talking about this project idea, where we'd submit one or two original works to each other and then we'd create based on those works.”

“Well, you know, talk, talk, talk, then Galipeau got very sick and passed away a couple for years ago.”

A few years after Galipeau's passing, Dallaire published his book of poetry based on Galipeau's sketches. Bédard wanted to complete the trifecta with a project of his own.

After securing a grant from the Ontario Arts Council for Northern Artists, Bédard was able to devote much of his time to this original work.

For the performance, Bédard had a screen on which he projected Galipeau's sketches that inspired each piece. For the audience, the theatre became an immersive experience, where image and pre-mixed digital soundscapes coalesced with the live performances.

Vocalist Patricia Cano, Silver Birch String Quartet and Saxophonist Jean-Yves Bégin performed Bédard's original work.

Bédard said choosing the musicians was easy.

“Jean-Yves and I used to have a very experimental cyber-jazz group called Cage and he was part of that,” Bédard said. “We have a long history of trying things out.”

Bédard said he also chose Cano, knowing that Galipeau would approve. “If you looked at his record collection, it was full of Latin divas. He loved that sound.”

The Silver Birch Quartet was chosen based on similar motivations.“They're not afraid of trying new Canadian music or composers. They're quite experimental in their approach. They're very open.”

While Bédard says he is hoping for a repeat performance, no dates have been set.

“I've had some unofficial discussions about repeat performances, but there is nothing set in stone...These classical works don't get performed many times unless you're dead or you're Beethoven.”