In this issue, Eesti Elu and Estonian Music Week continue to share articles from the VEMU Estonian Museum Canada archives, about memorable events of the past. In this piece, originally published in Vaba Eestlane on April 8th, 1967, the newspaper reports on a CBC program that featured the music of composer Udo Kasemets.
Toronto Symphony Orchestra to Perform Udo Kasemets’ Violin Concerto as part of a CBC Concert Program on Thursday Night
On Thursday, April 13th, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation—CBC—will host a concert beginning at 9:00 p.m., where the Toronto Symphony Orchestra will perform the Violin Concerto, Opus 41, by Udo Kasemets, an Estonian composer living in Toronto and recently awarded the Canada Council Prize. The orchestra will be conducted by John Avison from Vancouver and Hyman Bress will be the soloist. The piece will be performed on the program “Concerts From Two Worlds” and will be introduced by Sir Ernest MacMillan. The same program will also feature the symphony “Three Thoughts for Orchestra” by Polish-born Walter Buczynski, and “Fantasmes” by André Prévost.
The CBC Times is devoting great attention to the upcoming concert, proudly announcing that both Kasemets’ and Buczynski’s works will be performed worldwide by the CBC for the first time and are therefore noteworthy events in Canadian musical life. The article, which is accompanied by a picture of Udo Kasemets, notes that Kasemets began composing his violin concerto in the summer of 1955 and completed it two years later. It consists of three movements: Toccata, Elegy, and Chaconne.
Producer Irving Glick says that this work is extremely difficult to perform, but Hyman Bress interprets it brilliantly.
It belongs to Kasemets’ earlier musical work and is diametrically opposed to his current avant-garde music, with which our artist has gained widespread attention at so-called “happening concerts” in the Toronto area. The CBC Times adds that Kasemets was born in Tallinn, studied music at the Tallinn Conservatoire and later at the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart. He moved to Canada in 1951, having taught piano, music theory, and composition in Hamilton and Toronto, and was the founder of the Toronto Bach Society. He has also distinguished himself as a choir director, organist, musical accompanist, lecturer, and journalist in the field of music.
U. Kasemets included several songs from modern international compositions in the repertoire of the Toronto Estonian Women’s Choir and gave up conducting the choir after he became convinced that it could no longer develop with the existing vocal material.
His violin concerto is said to be mainly traditional, with a strong melodic line, in which the orchestra plays an important role throughout the concert.
In earlier years, Udo Kasemets was also active in Estonian music life in Toronto, conducting the Toronto Estonian Women’s Choir and being the organist of the St. Peter’s congregation. Never one to be concerned with “cheap” musical achievements, U. Kasemets included several songs from modern international compositions in the repertoire of the Toronto Estonian Women’s Choir and gave up conducting the choir after he became convinced that it could no longer develop with the existing vocal material.
In his lectures, he also tried to bring Estonians closer to contemporary music.
U. Kasemets also made a career in journalism, serving for some time as a music reviewer for Canada’s largest daily newspaper, the Toronto Daily Star, where he did not shy away from even the harshest criticism when necessary.
Estonian Music Week is fast approaching! Be sure to visit estonianmusicweek.ca for details on all of the concerts coming up, including a celebration of the 105th anniversary of Canadian-Estonian composer Udo Kasemets.
