{"id":7203,"date":"2012-10-28T08:34:43","date_gmt":"2012-10-28T12:34:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/?p=7203"},"modified":"2012-10-28T08:34:43","modified_gmt":"2012-10-28T12:34:43","slug":"composer-andrew-ager-returns-inspired-by-summer-in-italy-and-the-friednship-of-bruce-hill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2012\/10\/28\/composer-andrew-ager-returns-inspired-by-summer-in-italy-and-the-friednship-of-bruce-hill\/","title":{"rendered":"Composer Andrew Ager returns inspired by summer in Italy and the friendship of Bruce Hill"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The 21st century composer’s room in Venice (Andrew Ager photo).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Andrew Ager, formerly the organist and choirmaster at St James’ Cathedral and always a composer, has now devoted himself full-time to writing music. He lives in an old family farmhouse in the Ottawa Valley, but spent the summer working and giving organ recitals in Monaco and Italy and has a premiere of new works coming up on Nov. 10. He picks up the story:<\/em><\/p>\n

While I was working in Italy for [University of Toronto opera division head] Darryl Edwards’ distinguished summer programme, the Centre for Opera Studies in Italy, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous vocal students from across Canada.<\/p>\n

In such a beautiful setting as Sulmona, nestled seductively amongst the mountains of the Abruzzi, my creative juices began to flow with great ease.\u00a0 My days unrolled largely at my own pace, a spacious one, taken up by composing and then attending the evening concerts.<\/p>\n

By 9 p.m., the evening air was champagne-like and the concerts were held in an outdoor courtyard off the main square of that very antique town.<\/p>\n

What did I write? I had an outstanding commission for a song cycle using Italian poetry, and so set about finishing it.<\/p>\n

After COSI ended with a merry poolside party at a country villa, I went up to Venice where I completed the set, composing mornings in a beautiful\u00a0house in the Ospedale quarter.<\/p>\n

My very good friend, the British soprano Rosemary Forbes-Butler, premiered the set in the home of Count Paolo Trentinalia, and we repeated the performance at a private concert in the home of a local opera coach several days later.\u00a0 The Count declared his admiration for these songs, and I was not displeased.<\/p>\n

One of the singers from COSI, the golden-voiced Leigh-Ann Allen, will be giving the Canadian premiere of this set on Saturday, November 10, 7:30 pm at the Tryptych Auditorium, 2737 Bayview (at the 401).<\/p>\n

On the same programme will be the premiere of my Divertimento for Cello and Piano<\/em>, composed in memory of the intrepid and beloved late Bruce Kirkpatrick Hill, performed by cellist David Sharpe.<\/p>\n

I will be playing the piano in both instances.<\/p>\n

Bruce was a fervently eclectic lover of\u00a0classical music, and chamber music in particular. It was a facet of his musical life not often appreciated by his devoted circle of church-music enthusiasts. He often featured chamber works on his very successful concert series at Christ Church Deer Park, and so it seemed fitting to render homage with the same.<\/p>\n

Andrew Ager<\/em><\/p>\n

For more details on the concert, click here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Here is Ager playing at some Bach in E-flat the new $2.5 million organ installed at the Cathedral in Monaco, followed by his church anthem New Jerusalem<\/em>, sung by the Men and Boys of Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa, in St John’s College Chapel, Cambridge:<\/p>\n