Charles Wilson (composer)

Charles Mills Wilson (born May 8, 1931 in Toronto ) is a Canadian composer, choir director and music teacher.

Wilson took piano lessons as a child from Wilfred Powell and later organ lessons from Charles Peaker . On the advice of Harvey Perrin , he went to the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, where he studied composition with Godfrey Ridout . At the Berkshire Music Center in Tanglewood he took lessons from Lukas Foss (1950) and Carlos Cháves (1951). For a year he taught harmony at the University of Saskatchewan , where he led the university choir and completed his symphony in A as a dissertation .

From 1954 to 1964 he was organist and choirmaster at he Chalmers United Church in Guelph. In 1955 he founded the Guelph Light Opera and Oratorio Co (later Guelph Opera and Oratorio Singers ), whose conductor he was until 1974. In addition, he continued to conduct choirs and bands in the region, gave music lessons and was temporarily responsible for music lessons at public schools in Guelph. From 1962 to 1974 he directed the Bach-Elgar Choir of Hamilton . From 1979 he taught at the University of Guelph , where he also directed the studio for electronic music and later became composer in residence . In addition to several operas and ballets, Wilson composed symphonic works, chamber music, choral works, songs and electroacoustic music.

Works

• String quartet , 1950
• The Strolling Clerk from Paradise , Chamber Opera, around 1952
• Symphony in A , 1953
• Sonata da Chiesa for oboe and strings, 1960
• String trio , 1963
• On the Morning of Christ's Nativity Cantata for soprano, tenor, baritone, mixed choir and orchestra, 1963
• Three Madrigals on Latin Lyrics for mixed choir, 1964
• And Now Bless the God of All for mixed choir and organ, 1965
• Johnny Fibber , game for children, 1965
• The Angels of the Earth , oratorio for soprano, baritone, narrator, mixed choir and orchestra, 1966
• Theme and Evolutions for orchestra, 1966
• String quartet , 1968
• En Guise d'Orphée for Briton and string orchestra, 1968
• Ballet Score (based on a Native American legend), 1969
• Dona nobis pacem for mixed choir and wind instruments, 1970
• Concerto 5 × 4 × 3 for string quintet, woodwind quartet or brass trio, 1970
• Phrases from Orpheus for mixed choir and dancer, 1970
• Heloise and Abelard , Opera, 1972
• The Selfish Giant , children's opera based on Oscar Wilde , 1972
• The Summoning of Everyman , Church Opera, 1972
• Sinfonia for double orchestra, 1972
• Image out of Season for mixed choir and wind quintet, 1973
• Christo paremus canticam for mixed choir and orchestra, 1973
• Symphonic Perspectives 'Kingsmere' for orchestra, 1974
• Missa brevis for mixed choir and wind instruments, 1975
• String Quartet , 1975
• Kamouraska , Opera, 1975
• Song for St Cecilia's Day for soprano, tenor, mixed choir and orchestra, 1976
• Psycho Red, 'a dramatic mindscape' , 1977
• Conductus for piano and orchestra, 1979
• Dream Telescope for alto and piano, 1979
• First Book of Madrigals for soprano and instrumental ensemble
• Un Canadien Errant for mezzo-soprano, tenor or baritone, mixed choir and instrumental ensemble, 1981
• Invocation for eight solo voices and tape, 1982
• String Quartet , 1983
• Two Voices for mezzo-soprano, clarinet, cello, piano, two percussionists and tape, 1983
• The Revelation to John for three mixed choirs, three conductors and organ, 1984
• Crosstalk D / A for tape, 1988
• A Possible Piece 'in a world gone mad' for tape, 1989
• Tim , radio opera for tenor, baritone and tape, 1990

source

• Charles Wilson ( English, French ) In: Encyclopedia of Music in Canada . published by The Canadian Encyclopedia .