Another Season of Instrumental Stories
This monthly program explores worlds of music featuring instruments with cultural significance
Travel Bach in time: Exploring the 17th-century Harpsichord
Thursday, April 25
Doors open at 6:00 p.m. - Be there to grab your seat
Programming begins at 6:15 p.m.
Concert begins at 6:30 p.m.
Memorial Park Library (1221 2nd St. S.W.)
Registration closed.
Travel back in time to experience the warm, intimate sound of the harpsichord, the predecessor of the piano. It's the same instrument Bach would have used to compose his timeless and complex compositions.
Harpsichordist and early music specialist Justin Luchinski invites you to sample some of the vast, diverse repertoire that flourished and developed throughout 17th-century Europe.
With French keyboardists aiming to mimic the sound of the lute and Italian masters pushing the complexity of ancient counterpoint in new directions, this music has the power to touch your heart in one moment and excite your imagination in the next.
About the Artist:
Justin Luchinski began an active career in early music performance in Montréal while completing his Bachelor's and Master of Music degrees at McGill University. While being a regular rehearsal keyboardist with Opera McGill's baroque opera productions, Justin had regular season concerts, performances at the Montréal Baroque Festival, recording projects, and nationwide touring with the early music ensemble Les Méandres.
Since returning to Calgary in 2020, Justin has performed as a soloist and accompanist at the National Music Centre, performed with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, created and instructed a basso continuo class at the University of Calgary, played a major role in organizing and executing a production of Handel's opera Ariodante, and played regular concerts with Early Music Voices, String Theory Music Collective, Rosa Barocca, and Luminous Voices.
Beyond his performances, Justin is deeply committed to enhancing early music education and awareness in Calgary. He drives the creation and execution of free educational concerts in partnership with the Calgary Public Library while serving as Co-Artistic Director of Chamber Muse Historical Music Society of Calgary.
Classical, Celtic & Country: A Fiddler's Eclectic Journey
Thursday, Feb. 29
Doors open at 6:00 p.m. - Be there to grab your seat
Programming begins at 6:15 p.m.
Concert begins at 6:30 p.m.
Memorial Park Library (1221 2nd St. S.W.)
Registration closed.
It looks like a violin. It plays like a violin. Scott Duncan will share the differences between what you know in an orchestra and its fun, eclectic cousin, the fiddle. Before we leap into March, let's examine the fiddle at the next Instrumental Stories' event in February.
There are subtle differences that make a musician officially a fiddler. Scott Duncan welcomes the debate and will share his inspiring musical journey as a musician, and he'll demo subtle ways fiddlers make the instrument their own. He'll demonstrate tune styles - waltz, jig, reels - as well as time signatures and styles. To complete our journey, Scott will share how he's become an effective "sideguy" to singers, including the late Ian Tyson.
About the Artist:
Raised in Calgary, Alberta, Scott Duncan is an energetic, passionate performer. He enjoys playing many styles, including Celtic, bluegrass, folk, classical, swing, country and other regional folk styles, and singer/songwriter accompaniment, both live and in the studio.
In addition to the live shows and touring with John Wort Hannam, The Wardens, and Delta Whiskey, Scott can be heard on over 30 recordings of many of the artists with whom he plays, and some he doesn't, including Ian Tyson's final album Carnero Vaquero.
With new, original tunes based on traditional styles, Scott continues to showcase an instrument whose voice and versatility pleases even the most seasoned fan. As a 'sideguy', he's been described as making "the happy songs better and the sad songs sadder." His first popular original tune Falling Down enjoyed radio play from a recording with Fair Haven. Recently, Scott began songwriting as well, and released a Christmas Album in 2023.
Five flute fusion
Thursday, Jan. 25
Doors open at 6:00 p.m. - Be there to grab your seat
Programming begins at 6:15 p.m.
Concert begins at 6:30 p.m.
Memorial Park Library (1221 2nd St. S.W.)
Registration closed.
In this Instrumental Stories presentation, Jessica McMann will present her work as a flutist and composer, fused together with traditional language and dance, and her own experiences as an Indigenous woman and Two-Spirit person. Award winning multidisciplinary artist Jessica McMann is an Alberta -based Cree (Cowessess, SK), who interweaves land, Indigenous identity, history, and language throughout her dance and music creation/performance practice. Jessica's work evokes the sounds and stories of the prairies, and this presentation will include traditional Indigenous elements, with her own original compositions.
About the Artist:
Jessica McMann is an Alberta-based Cree (Cowessess, SK), multi-disciplinary artist. She interweaves land, Indigenous identity, history, and language throughout her dance and music creation/performance practice. A classically trained flutist, Jessica holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Calgary and an MFA in Contemporary Arts from Simon Fraser University. Her work fuses together traditional language and dance with her own contemporary experiences as an Indigenous woman and Two-Spirit person.
Jessica has recorded two albums. Her latest, "Prairie Dusk" released in 2023. The album evokes the sounds and stories of the prairies and includes commissioned work as well as new originals. It is a follow-up album to her award winning first album Incandescent Tales which was released in 2021. This Indigenous classical album won the 2022 YYC Music Classical Album of the Year and Gold Medals in the Global Music Awards.
A WCMA 2022 and 2023 Nominee, Jessica is working on a new alt-pop recording to be released in 2024. Her musical, composition, and soundscape work focus on land-based creation and ideas of connection, disconnection, and home. "Too Good; That MAY Be," an immersive soundscape performance was shown at the Urban Shaman Gallery in Winnipeg as part of "The 60's Scoop; A Place Between" in 2017. Her compositions include Muskwa's Mountain Home (2021), Inni (2018) and soundscapes including beguiling (the) land (2020).
Jessica McMann is also co-founder and co-director of Wild Mint Arts, an Indigenous arts company and is a Laureate of the Hnatyshyn Foundation REVEAL Indigenous Art Awards (2017). Jessica currently resides in Cochrane, Alberta, where she works for the City of Calgary as Curator of Indigenous Art.
Bellows Across the Centuries: An Accordion Journey
Thursday, Nov. 30
Doors open at 6:00 p.m. - Be there to grab your seat
Programming begins at 6:15 p.m.
Concert begins at 6:30 p.m.
Memorial Park Library (1221 2nd St. S.W.)
Registration closed.
The Classical Concert Accordion is the latest arrival in the family of classical musical instruments. Over the past couple of decades, it has established itself in the sphere of musical art worldwide—in conservatories and universities, on the concert stage and recording studio, and in its appeal to composers writing today.
Join Sir N. Antonio Peruch on a unique musical journey that tells the story of this instrument across the centuries—from the Middle Ages to the present day. An Italian knight, Antonio will share the accordion's innovation, its intricacies and will give insight into the instrument's persistence in history.
Using selected musical excerpts, Antonio will amaze you with the beautiful and rich musical sounds this instrument can produce, proving why the accordion is so attractive to today's composers.
About the Artist:
One of the world's foremost authorities on the classical accordion, Sir N. Antonio Peruch is a distinguished international classical accordion artist, concerto soloist, chamber musician, recording artist, lecturer, researcher, composer, and arranger. He studied composition with Violet Archer and Malcolm Forsyth.
An innovative, knowledgeable, and captivating concert accordionist he pursues his vision of the accordion as an exciting, highly-expressive classical concert instrument—in the recording studio, the teaching studio, and in the concert hall. He has performed before enthusiastic audiences in Canada, the USA, Italy, Mexico, and Cuba.
He was nominated for both a Juno Award and a Western Canadian Music Award for his début Logos Futura CD of Canadian concerti. He won Italy's Orpheus recording award for his Homage to Tango: The Music of Daniel Binelli CD, which he recorded in Cuba with the prestigious Camerata Romeu string orchestra.
Peruch was knighted by the Republic of Italy for his contributions to Italian music and culture and received the prestigious University of Alberta Alumni Association Award of Excellence.
His recent book translation, Astor Piazzolla: The Father of the New Tango, originally written in Italian by Dr. Paolo Picchio, has been published this year by Edizioni Curci publishers of Milan, Italy.
He currently teaches classical accordion at the Bachelor's and Master's levels in the Music Division, School of Creative and Performing Arts, University of Calgary.
Ancient Tones and Enchanting Echoes: A Guzheng Journey
Thursday, October 26
Doors open at 6:00 p.m. - Be there to grab your seat
Programming begins at 6:15 p.m.
Concert begins at 6:30 p.m.
Memorial Park Library (1221 2nd St. S.W.)
Registration closed.
Pentatonic scales, fixed bridges and gǔ. In October, the Instrumental Stories series continues with an interactive session. Traditional Chinese music has a local master, who will introduce us to the fascinating ancient Chinese zither, the Guzheng.
Old, or ancient (gǔ) + Chinese zither (zhēng), the Guzheng, an elegant stringed instrument with a history dating back to China before the 6th century, takes centre stage at the Memorial Park Library.
Join us as Shirley Wong, a virtuoso on the Chinese Guzheng explores the magical songs and sounds of traditional Chinese music. Immerse yourself in the tonalities and stories of traditional melodies for this ancient instrument, along with contemporary selections and interactive musical experiences.
Shirley will show off the instrument and at the end of the concert, the audience will have the opportunity to play a simple piece of music with her.
About the artist:
Shirley Wong stands as the mastermind and guiding force behind the Harmony Guzheng Ensemble. As a dedicated full-time Guzheng (Chinese zither) instructor, Shirley imparts her expertise through personalized private and small group lessons, extending her teachings to students of all ages.
Shirley's journey flourished under the mentorship of Guzheng virtuoso Xu Nengqiang, where her talents and potential garnered recognition. This acclaim led to her selection as a teacher within the Hong Kong Guzheng Performers Association by Master Xu in 2005.
Upon her relocation to Calgary, Shirley independently embarked on a journey of performance and education. Her endeavors culminated in the establishment of the Harmony Guzheng Ensemble. Under her guidance, the ensemble achieved remarkable milestones, including sold-out Guzheng concerts throughout the city.
The impact of her teachings are evident in her young students' numerous accolades in music competitions and exemplary scores in instrumental examinations conducted by the Central Conservatory of Music of China. Beyond the realm of youth, Shirley's mentorship has enriched the lives of adult students, fostering bonds through the enchanting medium of Guzheng music.
When she isn't instructing, Shirley's love for music finds expression in community and cultural events where she volunteers, along with bringing joy to seniors in homes through her performances. Additionally, she has united the Harmony Guzheng family amidst the splendor of the Rocky Mountains, illustrating her multifaceted approach to music's integration within diverse contexts.
Sounds of Persia: A Santur Serenade
Thursday, September 28
Doors open 6:00 p.m. - Be there to grab your seat
Programming begins 6:30 p.m.
Memorial Park Library (1221 2nd St. S.W.)
Registration closed.
It's back.
CBC Calgary and the Calgary Public Library's sold-out series – Instrumental Stores - hosted at the Memorial Park Library returns for its second season on September 28, 2023.
Financial Controller by day and a captivating world musician by night, Bijan Maysami invites you to embark on a musical journey to Iran. Join us as we delve into the rich sounds and stories of Iran, woven through the enchanting melodies of the santur, the Iranian dulcimer.
Journey with Bijan as we explore traditional works for the instrument, alongside his own original compositions, fusing multiple musical styles, cultures, and genres.
If you missed Bijan's mesmerizing performance at CBC Calgary's July open mic event, don't worry, you have another chance to be spellbound this September.
Instrumental Stories is your gateway to cultural musical experiences in Calgary. Back for a second season, this monthly program is held for free at the Memorial Park Calgary Public Library. It showcases instruments with deep cultural significance. Don't miss out on this extraordinary musical exploration.
Tune in to Bijan's captivating santur performance this September. Let the music transport you to the heart of Iran. Another unforgettable evening of Instrumental Stories.
About the Artist:
Bijan Maysami's journey with the saunter began when he was six years old, studying under his uncle, saunter master Dr. Hosseiin Meysemi. Bijan continued his studies at Tehran University, studying under Master Majid Kiani, and went on to form the Hoorami Music Band, and win numerous awards and competitions, including the Iranian student music festival (1999 at Shiraz University, and 2002 at Amir Kabir University).
A Calgary resident since 2004, Bijan has performed at numerous cultural celebrations and events including TEDx Calgary (2013, and 2018), Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, Silk Road, Global Fest, and Road Cross festival.
Bijan thrives on collaborations with musicians from many cultures and genres, and formed the crossover collective, HymmMelodies Fusion in 2015. The band released its first album in 2018, entitled Colors of Peace. Bijan's latest compositional project called "Be Their Voices," will be released Fall 2023 and contains thirteen original compositions, all of which give context and voice to the women of Iran's recent movement called, "Women Life Freedom."
Instrumental Stories is a monthly program in partnership with the Calgary Public Library held at the Memorial Park Calgary Public Library that will open up different worlds of music featuring instruments with cultural significance.
