Canadian Celebration

Canadian Celebration
Composed by Peter Senchuk
for Flute Choir
Published by Forest Glade Music Publishing
Duration: ca. 6 minutes
Includes score and parts

Instrumentation:
Piccolo
4 Flutes
2 Alto Flutes
Bass Flute
Contrabass Flute

Introduction:
      When I was asked to compose a piece to help commemorate Canada's 150th birthday (or sesquincentennial of Canadian Confederation) I looked to two songs that are, and were, important songs in the history of Canada. The first is the famous Canadian national anthem “O Canada” composed in 1880 in Quebec City by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier (words) and Calixa Lavallee (music). Originally called “Chant national” it first gained popularity in French Canada before spreading across the country and acquiring English lyrics in 1908 written by Robert Stanley Weir. The second song is “The Maple Leaf Forever”, which was composed 13 years earlier than “O Canada” in 1867 (the year of the Confederation) by Alexander Muir.
      Canadian Celebration opens with melodic quotes from “O Canada” and then builds into a lively, celebratory piece. The middle section makes use of “The Maple Leaf Forever” interspersed with energetic rhythmic figures. The piece then returns to the original material and then states the most direct quote of “O Canada” before wrapping up the piece with a flourish. 
      Canadian Celebration was commissioned in 2017 by Judy Diez d'Aux for Les flutistes de Montreal in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Canada. It was premiered in Montreal, PQ on June 4, 2017 by Les flutes de Montreal and Flute Street flute choirs.
– Peter Senchuk