ClassicConcertsNS

By pwalt | February 1, 2017 |

MUSICIAN OF THE MONTH: CHRISTOPHER PALMER

A new month means a new featured musician, and February’s is none other than Christopher Palmer!

Christopher Palmer was born in The Hague, Netherlands, of Canadian parents, and grew up in London, England. He studied at the Royal College of Music in London, and later at the University of Ottawa.

He lives in Halifax, working as a professional bassoonist with Symphony Nova Scotia. He also plays piano and organ, and has been active in the community as a teacher, coach, conductor, and organizer of chamber-music events.

His training and experience in the Classical, Jazz and Pop traditions serve him well as a composer and arranger, and he has written scores for Symphony Nova Scotia, the Blue Engine Quartet, the Rhapsody Quintet, and other groups in a variety of styles.

As an arranger, he has worked with many East Coast artists of different backgrounds, including Meaghan Smith and Eleanor McCain. His arrangements of songs by Leonard Cohen for the Blue Engine String Quartet with singer/actor Cliff Lejeune have been performed many times, and have been recorded and broadcast on CBC radio.

With the local Celtic influence he wrote Pier 21 Overture, incorporating Irish fiddle tunes and a Nova Scotian folksong. Maritime legend inspired his composition “For Those In Peril On The Sea”. Other compositions include Overture:Juvenescence (commissioned and first performed by the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra), Suite de Jazz for jazz pianist and orchestra, and Ships and Flags: A 2012 Overture, which was commissioned by the CBC, and was first performed on the Halifax Waterfront as part of the 2012 Tall Ships Festival.

His newest work, “Halifax, December Sixth 1917”, will be premiered in March 2017 by the Halifax Camerata Singers, with the Rhapsody Quintet.

1.What is your idea of perfect happiness? While I believe happiness is possible in this existence, even during trying times, full and complete happiness belongs to the next life. I believe we can be most happy when we learn to forget ourselves, and live to make others’ lives better. I’m not quite there yet, but I’m working on it.

2. What is your earliest musical memory? My father played records to us kids, telling us what to listen for. We would burst out laughing at Haydn’s Surprise, or jump at the sudden outburst of “the sad man” (Tchaikovsky’s 6^th, 1^st movement). Also I heard my older sisters playing piano, and my Dad practicing the clarinet. Our family lived in Greece during my first 4 years (my father worked at the Canadian Embassy there), and Greek music reminds me of my early childhood.

3. What is something people would be surprised to know about you? My wacky sense of humour. I tend to be rather shy and reserved, and some think I’m very quiet and serious. So they are shocked when that mischievous side of me is revealed.

4. If you weren’t a musician, what would you like to do, all things possible? I love nature and the outdoors. I would want to do some sort of scientific work that involves animals and plants, and spending time in the wild.

5. What is your favourite city, and why? I’ve seen many beautiful and interesting cities in Europe and in North America. I’m not sure I have a favourite. I have to say, though, Halifax is a very nice city to live in. It’s big enough to have interesting cultural events and entertainment, and yet small enough for nature lovers like me to escape to the wilds.

6. Which composer (dead or alive) would you most like to share a meal with – where and why? I’d be tongue-tied and star-struck to spend time with any of the great composers, but sharing a meal with Bach would be a great experience. From all I know, he was a very down-to-earth and humble man, but one with a vast and heavenly vision. His music achieves the perfect synthesis of intellect, emotion and spirituality – something all serious composers aspire to. I’d also love to meet Haydn, whose music has lofty ideals, yet expresses an earth-bound enjoyment of life. Where to have supper? – I’d let them choose, and I’d gladly pay the bill.

7. Favourite childhood book? The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. That was the first novel I read through as a child, and I was completely absorbed. Before long, I had read all of the Narnia books, and I was totally converted to reading.

8. What are you most looking forward to in 2017? I’m greatly looking forward to the March 25^th performance of my newest piece: Halifax, December Sixth 1917, written for the Halifax Camerata Singers and the Rhapsody Quintet. The concert will commemorate the Halifax Explosion. I feel honoured to have been asked to write a work about that major event in our history.