Longing For Argentina & Summer Dreams
A short documentary about our 2022 Neighbourhood Series concert at the Waterloo Region Hospice.
COMPOSER PROFILE AND PIANO COLLECTION:
EDITH COVACH, COMPOSER / PIANIST
Edith Aeschbacher-Covach: ARCT Piano Performer and Composer; RCM certified ELEMENTARY, NTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED CERTIFIED THEORY & PIANO teacher; Online Certified Teacher; ORMTA, CMC and ACWC Affiliate. Musician, teacher, pianist and composer. Currently a teacher at the Renaissance School of the Arts in Waterloo, Ontario and at her private Studio.
Under the tutelage of Terence Kroetsch became an accomplished Piano Performer. Edith embraced counterpoint studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music with Prof. Roman Toi. Also coached by Gary Kulesha. Her compositions and arrangements had found a way into the KW local orchestras as well as various ensembles; her songs meet performances at Kiwanis festivals, ACWC Events and Studio recitals; Edith has attended several composers Workshops having the chance to work personally with composers such as Gary Kulesha and Kevin Lau. Her songs have also been recorded by professional musicians.
A piano work with 5 sections each narrating a different state of the
soul.
I Metamorphosis
II Awakening
III Playful
IV Yearning
V Free
Today, Edith has chosen to play three of these pieces that work well with our playful summer theme and Argentinian music. Summer Dreams is a collection of short piano works, program music, written to leave impressions of the poetry verses they describe. Similarly, Awakening, Playful and Free are written to describe states of the soul. Awakening, Playful and Free very much compliment our vocal pieces too. Tribute to My Land and Awakening very much describe the move from a distant land to a new country with all the new experiences affecting the soul. Playful and Te Recuerdo are dances in their own way. Free, is that little bird, being encouraged and pushed to find a new home. Please sit back and enjoy three lovely short pieces written and performed by Edith Covach.
AMY MARCY CHENEY BEACH, COMPOSER
Amy Beach (1867 – 1944) was born in Henniker New Hampshire. She was an incredibly talented pianist making her professional debut at the age of 16. She was also a largely self taught composer. She created over 300 compositions, almost all published, performed from the US to Australia. She was the first successful American female composer of large-scale art/program music.
Beach was a musical intellectual who wrote for journals, newspapers, and other publications. She gave advice to young musicians and composers—especially female composers. From career to piano technique advice, Beach readily provided her opinions in articles such as, “To the Girl who Wants to Compose”, and “Emotion Versus Intellect in Music.” In 1915, she had written Music’s Ten Commandments as Given for Young Composers, which expressed many of her self-teaching principles.
SUMMER DREAMS OP.47, AMY BEACH
Summer Dreams Op. 47 for four hands is piano program music written with this poetry in mind.
Through the house give glimmering light
By the dead and drowsy fire,
Every elf and fairy sprite
Hop as light as bird from brier
Shakespeare
Robin Redbreast No.2
In country lanes the robins sing
Clear-throated, joyous, swift of wing,
From misty dawn to dewy eve
(Through cares of nesting vex and grieve)
Their little heart-bells ring and ring
Luders
The Twilight No.3
The birds have hushed themselves to rest
And night comes fast, to drop her pall
Till morn brings life to all
Amy Beach
The katy-did works her chromatic reed
On the walnut tree over the well
Whitman
Elfin Tarantelle No.5
Fairies, black, gray, green, and white,
You moonshine revellers, and shades of night
Shakespeare
Good Night No.6
Goodnight! The crimson scented rose
Drops low her pretty head.
And the little grasses long ago
Their evening prayers have said.
Night’s starry eyes are blinking
At the moonbeams silvery light.
While the lily hides her golden heart
And whispers soft, – “Goodnight”
Lockhart
ARTIST PROFILE
Michele Wilmot (BSc.hon, A.R.C.T, L.B.C.M.hon) Michele has dedicated more than 27 years to teaching piano to students. She is currently the Past President of the local Kitchener Waterloo branch of the Ontario Registered Music Teacher’s Association (ORMTA). She serves on the board of the Ontario Chapter of the Leschetizky Association (OCLA). She has earned a Certificate of Recognition for Professional Achievement from the Canadian Federation of Music Teacher’s Association (CFMTA) 2016-2018, 2018-2020 and 2021-2022. She currently works for the Royal Conservatory of Toronto as the Cambridge Centre representative. Michele also works with her husband as the Controller of Wilmot Technologies Inc. of 28 years. She oversees the accounting and assists in the management of employees and office.
CAROL DITNER-WILSON, PIANIST
Carol Ditner-Wilson is a local pianist and church organist. After a long and happy career teaching piano and theory, she is thrilled to be working on her MA in Traditional and World Music (ethnomusicology) at the University of Sheffield, where she is supported by the Charles Bryars Organ Scholarship.
CASSANDRA AMORIM, VOCALIST
Cassandra Amorim is a Canadian soprano from Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Opera at the University of Toronto under the tutelage of Lorna MacDonald. Cassandra’s love for opera began while playing many well-loved opera overtures as principal violinist in the KWS Youth Orchestra and side-by-side with the KW Symphony. In 2021, Cassandra completed her Honours Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at Wilfrid Laurier University. During Cassandra’s time at Laurier, she was a member of the esteemed Laurier Singers’ Choir conducted by Lee Willingham. There, she also performed the role of Madame Lidoine in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites. Recent engagements include Second Apprentice in student composed opera Disobedience (U of T) and the premiere of Justin LaPierre’s new work , Messe de Ste. Anne . Th is summer, Cassandra will be debuting the role of Magda Sorel from Menotti’s The Consul with Summer Opera Lyric Theatre. Cassandra is looking forward to performing these beautiful pieces by Edith Covach !
Alten Wilmotis a multidisciplinary artist. He is the founder of Unwrap Theatre and in his teenage years, he founded Voices Over Time – a troupe that provided free concerts for long-term care facilities. He has worked with companies from coast to coast, performing in two Dora Award winning productions, receiving a Denny Award from the KW Arts Awards and the Queer Emerging Artist Award from Buddies in Bad Times.
ARTISTS
EDITH COVACH, COMPOSER/PIANIST
MICHELE WILMOT, PIANIST
CAROL DITNER-WILSON, PIANIST
CASSANDRA AMORIM, VOCALIST
ALTEN WILMOT, VOCALIST
CASSIDY CLEMMER, VIDEOGRAPHER
Robin Redbreast – Amy Beach
The Bird and I – Edith Covach
The Twilight – Amy Beach
Tribute to my Land – Edith Covach
The Katy-dids – Amy Beach
Elfin Tarantelle – Amy Beach
Te Recuerdo – Edith Covach
Soul’s Awakening – Edith Covach
Playful Soul – Edith Covach
Free Soul – Edith Covach
Good Night – Amy Beach
Acknowledgement:
This film was generously supported by the Musagetes Fund of the Waterloo Region Community Foundation, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Fixt Points Arts and Media, Toronto Arts Council, the City of Kitchener, and the City of Waterloo.
Many thanks to those who make our work possible.
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