New Opus 8 recording in the works

OPUS 8 gets busy with a third recording

We are delighted to announce that, this winter, Opus 8 is making a new recording of Canadian sacred music. Some of these works have never been recorded, some never made it beyond the format of their hand-written score; they’ve been hard to find and under-performed. Keep on reading below to learn more about the projects.

BUT FIRST: Most of the funds for the project have been raised, but we still have a few thousand to go to make it to our final goal - CLICK HERE if you’d like to donate, and support this exciting project. Lots of small amounts go a long way! All donations will receive a tax receipt from Chamber Factory.

Artistic Director/Tenor Robert Busiakiewicz has been busy transcribing and preparing these scores for our rehearsals, which begin in December. Here’s what Robert has to say about our recording project:

The talent and genius of composers like Violet Archer, Derek Holman, and Ramona Luengen manifested itself very locally. In Holman’s case it was in very specific churches. In Archer’s case, it was in specific performances, for which this music was written out by hand. Luengen’s scores were written out by hand for a specific choir. In fact, it appears that at least one or two of the pieces we will record has never been heard since its premiere. It’s our goal to transform these local efforts into a universal experience. It shouldn’t be that only the people at one particular place or performance get to experience this great repertoire – they ought to be available to everyone to experience and celebrate.

This recording project will make these works more accessible. Part of the project involves transforming some the scores into a much more legible performing edition, so that singers and conductors don’t have to spend time asking ‘is that an A or a B??’.

We’re very good in Canada at supporting new talent, but we’re not very good at sustaining that talent. To continue the legacy of composers like Holman and Archer after their recent deaths, is to continue a Canadian tradition, as is to support the work of living composers like Ramona Luengen and Stephanie Martin. Canada has this excellent legacy of choral music – we ought to continue and celebrate that legacy, as well as support new talent.

Rehearsals get underway this month, and we begin recording mid January - wish us luck!